yodeling jane

deliberate: done consciously and intentionally

2012-02-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

so there is kind of a trend out there with choosing a word as a kind of motto/mantra for the year. i really like this idea but i have never really put it into practice. i've tried, but i am really bad at that type of stuff. i don't even consider trying to make new year's resolutions anymore.

however, the idea of focusing on one word to shape and guide your decisions throughout the year really makes sense to me.

deliberate is often viewed in a negative light. the example in the online definition was "a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict". i guess i could choose intention or focus, but knowing the person i am i need something strong. so deliberate it is.

i feel like i have been flying by the seat of my pants, fearing the future too much. i don't think i will totally overcome all of my hesitations and fears, but i am hoping that focusing on this word and making deliberate, intentional decisions will help me become a more kind, aware, selfless mother, wife and woman.

we just painted a wall off the kitchen for a family chalkboard. i have written "deliberate" up at the top (well close to the top. i will rewrite it when i get a better ladder. talk about NOT being deliberate. come on it's late!) to remind myself of my focus word for the year. we'll see how it goes.

2012. accept.

2012-01-02T20:53:00.000-08:00

image here.

so i am a failure (for the time being) at blogging. in some ways it has been good. i have come off my dependency on blogs and the internet world, but i feel a pull back to my little space. i am not promising anything, i hope i never have, but i hopefully will be documenting my life a little more consistently.

i have been very busy the past few months. so much so that it has caused quite a bit of anxiety on my part. a couple of days ago, as i was thinking about my goals/hopes for 2012, i realized that i don't have to be anxious about every little decision/event/issue in my life. i can choose how i want to feel about the craziness in my life that i don't always have control over. simple, huh? i have struggled with this for so long but i am ready to change.

i read president monson's message this morning. this quote has bee swirling around in my head all day:

Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.

i am ready to accept the challenges and imperfections in my life. i am ready to have an abundant life. i am ready to be the person i have always wanted to be.

no place like home.

2011-11-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

we had an absolutely great halloween this year. everyone was very cooperated on the costume plan. i didn't kill myself trying to make all of them. the weather was beautiful (followed less than 24 hours later by a snow storm.) and the girls are all to an age where trick-or-treating is a lot less hands-on venture than in previous years.

we went with the "wizard of oz" theme. i should have done pictures of the whole fam, and maybe i will one day. but, i was the wicked witch of you- know-where and the application of green makeup is a little traumatic. my hats off to you idina menzel.

there is an obvious omission of the eldest child. she is very wary of any photographic effort of mine. i will try to wrassle her into some photos. however, she wore her same costume as last year; she was the wicked witch of the east and very cute at that. i am still trying to get her to wear a house-shaped cardboard box with the striped tights and ruby slippers. brilliant right?

no photos just words.

2011-09-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

i can't believe how busy we have been the past few weeks. i thought after school began i would have a little more time to enjoy fall and being at home. well how we are so often wrong. this is proving to be such a busy fall season for us.

the girls are staying busy mostly with their dance training. i have also started teaching at their dance studio and while it is only two classes a week, basically it is kicking my butt. but i am really enjoying it also.

on the 7th i am attending the sewing summit in salt lake city. i have not been the sewist i have wanted to be in the past several months so i am excited for a creative kick in the pants, espcially before the holiday season begins.

in a couple of weeks i am running the nike women's half marathon. i am super excited especially for the finisher's TIFFANY necklace. that little charm is pretty much the entire reason i am doing this whole thing. i am running with my sister-in-law, also named alisyn, which is always such a treat for me. she rocks.

so in addition to volunteering at the girls school and at church life is moving fast. i am so excite for fall and the halloween season. i am already planning my scary-but-not-gory halloween film festival for the month of october. the watcher in the woods and something wicked this way comes are both on the agenda. any other suggestions?

i am reading something wicked this way comes right now 1) it is pretty creepy 2) ray bradbury is an amazing author and 3) i think he was smoking weed whilst writing this book.

i am enjoying getting into the fall/halloween spirit and trying to plan some fun activities with the family. if you think of anything to do that is perfect for the fall, please share. no carnivals though.

p.s. i don't know what the problem is with the comment section. i will look into it, pronto.

favorite nooks and crannies.

2011-09-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

so the new house. what can i say but that it is a lot of work. the organization and decor is not even near where i would like it to be, but that probably won't happen for another 15 years.

however, there are some little spaces that have come together as planned.

our lovely little baskets in the mudroom.

purchased at world market.

some new chairs for the kitchen counter. these were purchased through home decorators collection. we decided to drop instead of raise the "bar" area so it is at table height.

i was so happy with how the bathroom turned out. we found a great antique claw foot tub at george's. it still has rust in the bottom of it, but i love it.

our bedroom is still in need of window coverings, but i love having the light in there right now.

have i sewn a lick of anything since we moved here? have i sewn a lick of anything in the past 5 months?

meow mix's room. simple but i likey.

for the two kids bathrooms we found some great radial light fixtures. very sweet and feminine which we do a lot of round these parts.

i love having some cookbooks out in the open. the recipe box was my grand mother's and i am glad it now has its own little home.

i post these pictures not to brag or to compare. i was asked by a few people to put up some pictures on the bloggy blog.

i have been hearing a lot lately about people's discontent with the blogging world and i have very strong opinions about this subject. i won't address them here. i just want to make sure there is no comparing going on. ok? everyone with me on this one. we all gots problems and we're all trying to survive best we can. 10-4?

in other news: i was declared the worst mother in the world today and have officially ruined my daughter's life.

where's my trophy?

soooooo........

2011-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

how you doin' ?

i won't bore you with the details of my crazy mixed-up summer. i didn't expect this summer to be so stressful and weird. in fact the opposite. but i guess that is how it goes sometimes. so onward and upward. i hope....

some things on my mind right now:

- i literally can't wait for fall to come. i feel the ants in my pants to get the fall decor out.

- desperately trying to finish "les miserables".

- watching "amadeus". note to self: need to listen to more classical music.
- getting the garden ready for next spring. need to build the boxes soon. this year was pretty much a bust.

- didn't i mention that i am so ready for autumn?

*images from pinterest

what's been up.

2011-06-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

number 22 had a very successful spring season.

this one.....well continues to be crazy as always. literally crazy.

field day!

drew's wonderful kindergarten teacher. mrs. huntington.

saying goodbye to the giant bear.

awards assembly.

someone had a birthday!

making ourselves at home on the construction site.

the daunting task of getting the garden ready and going.

finally enjoying sunny, warm days.

lots of s'mores on the menu.

the leaning tower of micah.

and i said i would not do a relay again. well i did it. it was a great experience.

and i will not do one again. i mean it this time.

you may need a few minutes to compose yourself.

2011-06-28T06:19:00.000-07:00

sorry about the m.i.a.-ness. i will do better. in the meantime, i have found the FUNNIEST website ever. awkward family photos.

i am probably late to the party on this one, but these photos literally had me on the floor.

cheers!

just have to post this.

2011-05-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

oh the sun shines bright....

2011-05-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

wow! i knew i hadn't blogged in a long time, but over a month. sheesh! where did the time go?

last weekend was the kentucky derby. for four years we lived in louisville while ben was in dental school and overall we loved our time there. and i still miss that place dearly.

i made it a goal to have a derby party every year since we left. well here we are 7 years later and this is the first official attempt i have made. again, sheesh!

i love watching the derby. there is such a tradition surrounding it that is hard to replicate anywhere else in our country. i had the opportunity to attend the derby in 2004 and i hope one day to go back and be there again.

one of the best things about the derby/kentucky is the food. it seems weird, but louisville actually is well known for the the number and variety of great restaurants. there are also some great recipes that are swirling around out there that are fabulous and remind me so much of the few years that i lived there.

mint juleps. i don't partake of those, so my substitution was ginger with a mint sprig. next year i will try crushing up the mint first and adding it to the ginger ale. i think that would be mighty tasty.

cheddar box cafe cheese torte. they don't give out their recipe and i know this isn't the exact one, but this is the one i had whilst living out there and i think it is too tasty for words. basically it is a cheddar/pecan/onion layer on the top and bottom, a cream cheese and mango chutney layer, and cream cheese and spinach layer in the middle. serve with a variety of crackers and/or veggies.

the country ham biscuit. there is a restaurant in the middle of nowhere kentucky called "our best" (the few times i went there someone else was driving and i had no idea where we were headed.) they may be closed now. not sure. anywho, the country ham biscuits there were DEELICIOUS! so salty it would burn your tongue off. but i loved it. i could not find country ham here in my neck of the woods, so i used bacon and added a orange-pecan butter ala paula deen. next year i am going to try and import some country ham just for the derby.

and last but not least the pies. derby pie is a must. this was my first experience baking chess pie. it tasted alright, but the texture was off. guess i will just have to keep on trying.

i am not including any pictures of the decorations or prizes, because there were none. i failed in that area. next year. next year.

house of sick.

2011-03-29T20:06:00.000-07:00

another child decided to jump on the invalid bandwagon today. so it was a (long) day at home for everyone.

only three movies were watched today. instead of megamind watched three times yesterday.

i did get a few things done. thank you cards made and sent.

my kids are picky about medicine. i have gone through three different ones for the munchkin, only to discover she likes none of them. she hasn't had pain meds in three days.

this little doggie was underfoot ALL day.

i forced them to do a little bit of schoolwork.

lots of sprite consumed by the young ones.

a lot of this consumed by the mama.

i will be playing single mom for the rest of the week, so i really needed to take a drive.

wishes.

2011-03-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

i had 4 wishes for today:

1) to get some projects worked on.

2) find a yellow cardigan. didn't find it, so i got myself some lululemon love.

3) days donuts! honestly, no lie. you will never have better.

4) a nap.

i can share all this, because they all came true.

tonsilectomy via instagram.

2011-03-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

the munchkin had a little procedure yesterday to remove her intrusive tonsils and adenoids. hopefully this will help her get some better sleep, along with the rest of us (she is quite loud with the snoring.)

we are go and we are good.

getting the fancy pajamas on.

proud of her "official" outfit.

coloring her hospital buddy doll. that was a life saver.

watching teevee. waiting for the versed to kick in.

kicked in and off to surgery.

waiting. working on a mug rug (more on this later.)

out of surgery and resting peacefully. about 30 minutes before, she was not so peaceful.

the wheelchair ride out.

this was the most anticipated part of the whole day for the patient.

the long ride home. including a "pit stop".

home with sisters.

p.s. instagram is awesome. i know i am totally late to the party on this one, but i am now hooked! and it is free.

so proud.

2011-03-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

this morning i asked ellie if she wanted to go somewhere fun today after school. her reply, "you mean like the library!"

i was thinking more like the movies, but that works.

happy st. paddy's day.

2011-03-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

st. patrick's day has always been a fun tradition in our home. it is always fun to see what havoc, lucky (our resident leprechaun) will reek on our house. this year because of so many things going on today we had out st. paddy's day meal last night, fashioned our leprechaun trap and played beatles rock band. because you know...... they are.... um...... well, they come from close to ireland.

i don't do corned beef and cabbage. beef stew and soda bread are much more authentic in my opinion.

i think our girls have pretty low expectations whether they will catch lucky or not. they're giving him party favors and a loot bag for goodness sake.

irish soda bread as bait. it is pretty good, if i say so myself.

it looks like she is working so hard. really she was taping her mouth shut.

i don't care that it is a school night.

2011-03-16T19:28:00.001-07:00

i'm a watchin' a movie.

"i can do it."

2011-03-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

where in the heck do i get the idea into my head that today will be an easy day?i so think that i have my day scheduled and it will all go according to plan. duh? (can't get enough of that charlie sheen.) seriously, i have thought that every morning for the past week. and every day for the past week has been filled with lots of little and big to dos.

i am realizing that i will never have it all accomplished, but i am SOOOOO fighting it.

brinner.

2011-03-02T19:58:00.001-08:00

wednesday night dinners are known as "brinners" around these parts (breakfast for dinner. cute huh?)

tonight it was breakfast burritos with mango and pineapple. so good and easy. sausage, eggs, black beans, homemade salsa, cheese, sour cream. heaven after a busy day.

diy ruffled leggings

2011-02-25T10:47:00.001-08:00

so there is a certain clothing company that shares a similar name with this here blog (it was so-beyond-belief-NOT-intentional) called matilda jane.

i love matilda jane's products. so beautifully cute. i would buy about everything from them, except that i don't quite have the funds to support that habit. they have especially cute ruffled leggings for girls that add such a great touch to an outfit. often the leggings are the first items to sell out. so in desperation i decided i would try to come up with my own version of these leggings. i was pretty successful, plus i found a great way to recycle/upcycle/reuse (whatever category works for you) some old, worn out stretchy knit camisoles of mine in the process.

you will need:

leggings ( i bought some at old navy for $5)

old camisole or stretchy knit fabric

ruffling presser foot (helps but is not necessary)

basic sewing supplies

sewing machine

first i cut the bottoms of my camisoles in 1 1/2 inch strips (any width will work).

i cut the strips at one of the seams, sewed a couple of strips together and then used a ruffling presser foot to gather the strips.

i did two sets of ruffles on each leg. i placed the top ruffle about 4 inches up from the bottom of the legging and the lower ruffle 2 inches down from that. i would recommend going a little higher than that. i was making a pair for my three-year-old and the bottom of those leggings can get pretty small, thus making it more difficult to sew. you could even cut the bottom of the legging off and make it capri length.

pin ruffles in place and sew.

this is the only pair i have made so far. surprisingly my daughter loves them, so i need to make some more. there are so many options: making the ruffle fabric wider, changing the height of the ruffles, you could come up with some really cute options.

you can also do this project completely sewing machine free. in fact, if the leggings you are working with are a small size that may be a better alternative. even the ruffling can be done by hand similar to creating gathers for a skirt.

now go and sew!

just a thought.

2011-02-22T19:22:00.001-08:00

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

i have been thinking about this quote for weeks. i have a copy of it hanging in my kitchen. i love it, but for me it is one of the hardest things to do. i am working on it though and i guess, for now, that is the best i can do.

sorry to be such a downer, but winter and other circumstances are really getting to me.

i'll do happy and light tomorrow.

today.

2011-02-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

rifling through kids valentines candy. no chocolate? what is this world coming to.

a storm's a comin'. i'm wearing flats while i can.

diet coke is on sale.

trip to the grocery store for more.

house is coming along. trying to stay positive.

new hair color and curls. my hair now curls. in a cool way.

happy love day.

2011-02-14T16:31:00.001-08:00

i hope it is sweet.

my new mantra.

2011-02-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

"and i'll find strength in pain,

and i will change my ways."

homemade oreos.

2011-02-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

i think this might be my favorite cookie, mainly because i have the hardest time getting myself to stop eating these. and they are dang easy to make.

mix:

one box of devil's food cake mix

1/2 cup of butter, melted

1-2 eggs (i researched the recipe because i couldn't find mine and it is ok to play with it. i had jumbo eggs so i used one of those.)

as you can see the dough will be dry.

roll into about 1/2-inch balls. i make mine small because they are cute and make you think you are not eating as many.

bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. most recipes say not to over bake, but i like mine more like the original and bit crispy.

cool completely.

for the filling, mix:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

2-4 cups powdered sugar

i added some red food coloring to make it valentines-style.

i have found the secret to good cream cheese frosting is to beat the heck out of it. i use my kitchenaid mixer so i don''t have to worry about arm fatigue. i still let it mix for about 5 minutes to let the sugar breakdown into the fats.

serve and try not to eat 10 in one sitting (you laugh but....)

and just to keep it real. i am not a pretty baker. chaos is the story in my kitchen. and thankfully this isn't my permanent kitchen.

i love getting things done.

2011-02-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

my sewing habits have gone a little out of control. i think i may take a break a bit to catch up and balance other areas of my life.

this was a really fun dress to complete. it is the portabello pixie claire dress pattern. very easy to follow. i ordered the fabric from hawthorne threads. it turned out great and twirling shall now commence.

thanks britt for letting me borrow the pattern!

janvier project. fin.

2011-01-31T20:26:00.001-08:00

and already confiscated for a dance bag.

really a very structured detailed bag that is not too complicated to make. find the pattern online at fourteen may.

remembering summer.

2011-01-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

today i have been having a hard time with the fact that it is winter. so i am looking at this picture trying to remember how in the summer i (sometimes) wish it were winter.

ali edwards shared some lines of this poem by mary oliver on her blog today. i went to the link and read the whole poem and it totally spoke to me.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

i still wish it were summer, but those lines make winter just a bit more bearable.

my dream quilt.

2011-01-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

i really shouldn't allow myself to look at fabric on etsy. especially the japanese stuff.

these fairy tale patterns are especially beyond gorgeous to me. i dream of one day making a quilt with all of these.

little red riding hood.

rapunzel.

alice in wonderland.

the wizard of oz.

pinnochio.

the three little pigs.

sleeping beauty.

please, stop the insane cuteness!

how's that for makin' it do?

2011-01-25T18:52:00.000-08:00

so yesterday i realized that my little gal had no gift to give her cute friend, lily for her birthday. today.

due to the lack of good children/toy shopping options in the area where i live and that we are glued to the house with potty training, i was scrambling. and drawing a ginormous blank.

i had some canvas leftover from a previous couple of projects and was eventually, going to try and make some canvas bags for my girls. i had seen this over on made, but i don't own a silhouette machine and was trying to figure out how to personalize them on my own.

and then, honestly, at 9:36 am, inspiration struck! why not just applique it, like i do everything else? it actually speaks to my current state of mind, that i didn't figure this all out sooner.

because i loved this project so very, very much, and it was so very, very simple i am just bursting to share.

supplies:

canvas fabric

scrap fabric

coordinating thread

ribbon or 4 inch wide strips of fabric

sewing machine and basic sewing supplies

first cut your canvas. i cut my piece 11 inches wide by 26 inches long, then folded the bottom edge to the top edge (so that the bottom of the bag is folded.) really, any size you want to make the bag will work. i wanted to be able to put some coloring books in there so it worked out great for me.

next, cut out your letters to applique onto the bag. i didn't take pictures so i will try and talk you through it. in a word processing program, spell out the name and enlarge to the appropriate size. i used the font "century gothic" and enlarged it to 400. cut out paper letters. trace (flipped over to the reverse) onto the wrong side of your fabric. cut out and pin to the canvas. initially i was going to run her name horizontally across the bottom of the fabric. that didn't work due to the size of the letters vs. the size of the bag. i like how it turned out. play with it.

i zig zag stitched the letters down, but i think straight stitching would be equally cute. you could also use heat n' bond to secure your letters before sewing in case you are worried about them slipping.

i didn't. i'm a rebel like that.

i then zig zag stitched all the way around the bag. because the thread i had was a fairly pale shade of pink, i went around the edge a couple of times, just to make it visible.

i then stitched up the sides of the bag, but i would actually attach the straps before doing that. it was somewhat difficult to maneuver the bag with the sides finished.

straps: i was hoping i would have enough ribbon to use as the straps/handles for the bag. but, i didn't. so i quickly fashioned (i love sing that term) some fabric straps.

i cut a 4 inch wide by 18 inch long piece of fabric. fold each long edge in a 1/4-inch and then fold it in half (long sides together. capiche?). top stitch each side with a 1/8 inch seam allowance. zig zag the short ends. repeat for the other strap.

pin to the bag making sure straps on each side are even.

i secured the straps by sewing a box and then making an "x" inside of it. like i said, it is much easier if you do this before you stitch up the sides of the bag.

straight stitch the sides of the bag with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. maybe even do it twice. clip threads, stuff with some books and volia! the cutest little bag you wished you had for yourself.

lily's mom is bri over at talkin' chow playin' house. if you would like to see the cutest-beyond-cute pink birthday party and have a great resource for lots of yummy recipes, head on over there.

its potty-training time around here.

2011-01-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

the reward! i have been partaking way too often myself.

obsessing about.

2011-01-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

getting this baby read.

this beauty of a quilt (from anna maria horner's blog.)

gumball necklaces (found on one charming party.)

really big round balloons. and the beach. and cute one-piece swimsuits.

finishing the valentines garland. fin!

my shiny new blendtec blender.

i even did whole wheat bread in it.

i am not a fashionista,

2011-01-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

but i love awards show dresses. here are my favorites from last nights golden globes:

natalie portman

lea michele (i think this one is my fra-vorite.)

dianna agron

angelina jolie (do i even need to type her name?)

how did this happen?

2011-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

happy birthday meow mix.

me. no. likey.

2011-01-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

so i had been feeling a little sick today, but was very optimistic that it would be something mild. i had every intention of being very creative and productive today. i even took pictures to prove it. well, six o'clock rolled around and it hit me. i feel like absolute crap. and i am trying really hard to not get grumpy about it. so i am staying in bed and watching last night's "biggest loser." and my husband is once again saving the day by going and getting me a banana malt. take that vegan cleanse.

however, i did find this in the pb teen catalog this week and i may go and order it just to make myself feel better. emotional shopper: yeah, that's how i roll.

feeling craf-tay.

2011-01-05T20:54:00.001-08:00

feeling the groove to get some creative projects accomplished. thanks em for the ginghers. they cut canvas like "butta".

lovin' the veg.

2011-01-04T21:02:00.001-08:00

so this week i have been doing a vegan cleanse. i have given up meat, dairy, sugar, artificial sugar (means no diet coke. insert scream here.) and everything else worth living for.

i kid.

why am i doing this you ask? i really have no idea other than a friend asked me if i wanted to do it and i said "yes".

okay i know one reason why. because my husband thinks i am addicted to diet coke and cannot give it up. well it has been 3 moons (or is it 4? when do you start counting moons?) since i have had "the juice" and i am doing pretty well. that is until today when i pulled up to the store and felt that comforting feeling of knowing i was about to........ not get a diet coke.

#*$%$&^$%!

i am over it. for tonight.

i have to say i feel terrific. hungry, but terrific. i definitely feel a difference in my energy level. way up. i can honestly say i have reached to recommended 3-5 fruits and vegetables per day. yesterday and today i way more than exceeded that.

and i need to go to bed. because going to bed means that i won't feel hungry. and it is not even hungry. it is feeling satisfied.

so now i have this big dilemma. i love the way i feel both physically and emotionally, knowing i have eaten so well. but i love diet coke (i don't want to hear about how your body turns it in ether alcohol. i've heard it.) i love chocolate. i love bread and cheese.

where do i draw the line between feeling great physically and feeling comforted by the food and the routine surrounding food. i.e. making cookies on sunday afternoons. anyone? anyone? (i realize this is all starting to sound kind of neurotic.)

here are some of my favorite recipes i have made this week (with pictures!):

big curry noodle pot ( i omitted the tofu and used broccoli and carrots instead.)

slightly garlicky hummus

berry tofu smoothie

lime mango smoothie (can't find a link. and no picture. sorry.)

from "faves" by melissa chappell

4 cups frozen mango

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 banana

1 collard leaf

1/4 cup (or more) water

combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth ( i had to use a little bit more water to make it finish. i also added some lime zest. that was yummy.)

new years resolutions.

2011-01-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

i have not made real new years resolutions in a while. for some reason this year, i feel compelled to have something to focus on. we will see what happens.

- read "les miserables" this year. if i get through this mammoth of a challenge, i will read at least one book a month after that. i bought my copy of it yesterday, and WOW! this will be a challenge, but one i have always wanted to do. in fact i think i have started it at least twice...

- complete at least one project a month. for january, the march bag designed by my friend melissa at the polka dot chair.

- become a better saver/money manager. this is a goal that i have been working on for the past few years and i feel i need to continue that. mostly i need to do this through saving a little each month and really evaluating our needs vs. wants.

- continue working out at least 3 times a week, 5 times of possible. i would like to do the nike women's half marathon in october, but honestly right now i am not that motivated and who knows what this year will bring? i am really liking my gym right now (they offer free child care, which makes it so easy.)

what's on your list?

where i live.

2011-01-01T01:02:00.000-08:00

i may even start to appreciate the smell of manure being spread in the fields.

on second thought...

well hello there.

2011-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

welcome to my little world. nice to meet you.