Missing

#1. A working microwave

because the one that they sent us was all smashed in.

Ohhhh How I Have MISSED You Dishwasher!

2 months 19 days no sink, no dishwasher.

My husband installed the dishwasher.

Painting 101- Trim and Wainscoting

The one class I hated in college was psych 101, it's kind-of how I feel about painting. You know you have to do it because you want to graduate your want your kitchen to look fabulous!

Painting Trim and Wainscoting, this is what I learned along the way. I hope it helps you go from a freshman painter to Senior painter status.

Here are my painterly tips:

# 1:  buy GREAT sand paper or use a a sanding block even better for you if you have a dremel. Dremels can make the sanding process less painful.

HELP! Paint Dilemma...

I painted my nooks today. They went from this...

12 Breakfast Places in 12 Months

Remember my new years resolution is to visit 12 breakfast places in 12 months. I visited  MY numero uno breakfast joint, TreKroner!

Have a Laugh and BEAT the Winter BLUES

Today's guest post is Cami from "You Seriuosly Made That?" When ever I need a good laugh, I seriously, head on over to her blog. Take it away Cami...

You know the women who you just hate? 

The ones who do 3 hour yoga sessions, and feed their families all organic food, who write birthday cards to the grocery store clerks, and NEVER forget a dentist appointment?

I am not this woman.

My work out sessions consist of running to the car because I am 20 minutes late, and feeding my husband cereal for dinner…because frankly, he likes it better than my cooking. My “cards” are pieces of computer paper with a quick message written in the one color of permanent marker I own – orange. And never forgetting a dentist appointment? How about NEVER remembering?

No. I am definitely not this woman.

So for those who doubt yourselves, I’ve compiled the 
Top 7 reasons you may be slightly more functional than me.
 Because all women need a little pick-me-up every now and again.

1. I haven’t drunken out of a cup the past 24 hours – Why? Because I keep forgetting to run the dishwasher. I do kind of like drinking out of a bowl…makes me feel like a gigantic cat.

2. Sometimes I put my clothes on before I go to sleep…that way I can sleep in 3 minutes longer in the morning...when do I get up? 6:05. What time do I leave? 6:10. I must look so radiant…

3. My husband cut his finger so badly, it probably required stitches. So I glued it shut with Crazy Glue, and called it “good”

4. I make hats for stuffed animals. What else am I supposed to do with no kids?

5. I found a mysterious Peanut Butter M&M under the couch yesterday. I ate it

6. I ripped a pair of pants right along the crotch. I safety pinned it shut; and continued to wear them that way for the next 5 years.

7. I don’t own eyeliner…but sometimes I use a permanent marker. It always looks terrible, but I continue to try. What can I say, I’m an optimist.

We can’t all be perfect…

But at least there are people worse than us...
Like me.
You're welcome.


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Warm Drinks and GOOOOOOD reads!

My favorite warm drink is...

 a good old cup of tea. Earl grey, Tia Chi, peppermint, I have over 40 different flavors for what ever mood I am in!

If I go out, I like to treat myself to my favorite warm drink...

 

Hot Chocolate. Served best with whip cream on top!

Nothing goes better with a warm drink than a goooood read. Here a few of my favorites...

Its about a young man and his experience with a traveling circus. The characters are interesting. It is set In the 1930's.

Book #2

I'm reliving my high school years and lovin' it! (you should know what this book is about, otherwise I am ashamed of you)

Book #3

I am currently reading this book and I am having troubling reading it at night. There are A LOT of facts about Chicago plus the story line is of one of histories first serial killers.  Scary.

Link up your favorite drinks or Goood reads!

Here are the Guidelines:

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Please link up a new or old post to today's topic!
Don't forget the party is @ Momnivore Dilemma tomorrow 2/10/11

Please grab my button or put a hyper link at the bottom of your post so everyone can join in on Beat the Winter Blues!

Health Secrets try and Beat the Winter BLUES!

I have been told that when you heat Olive Oil it turns into a trans-fat. This is a myth, phew. I love my olive oil.

Excessively heating olive oil will evaporate the alcohols and esters which make up its delicate taste and fragrance. Heating olive oil will not change its health aspects, only the flavor. (Dr. A.Kiritsakis, a world renowned oil chemist in Athens, Book - OLIVE OIL FROM THE TREE TO THE TABLE -Second edition 1998),

Benefits of Olive Oil:

1. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels.

2. There are some benefits towards colon cancer

3. Olive oil is very well tolerated by the stomach. In fact, olive oil's protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis.

I like to buy EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL because it comes from the first pressing of the olives, containing higher levels of antioxidants, vitamin E,  phenols, and it is less processed.

Next time you go grocery shopping choose Olive Oil instead of vegetable oil!

I like to make a super thin crusted crusted pizza with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. I love to drizzle olive oil over the top!

I'm linked up to Nicole @ Momnivore's Dilemma today!

Trim and I am NOT talking about the tree

The kitchen cabinets went on the walls and then we were going to put up the trim. But it didn't fit. In fact not ONE single type of trim that the manufactured made worked for above our cabinets.

Do you see my dilemma? A trimless kitchen, I would rather NOT cook in it. Anyway, we have an OLD house with uneven ceilings.  To make me happy (HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE) the husband, we had to by a separate trim.

It does NOT match my cabinets...

Off to the Benjamin Moore store, I went. They had this way cool machine. The guy put my door under a light and the next thing I knew he was mixing my paint...

Pretty good match, right? I sprayed the trim and look how amazing that Benjamin Moore is...

ahhhh the power of paint!

Do a LiL' Good to Beat The Winter Blues

I want to thank Katie for her lovely post today!    

Hello to all of you fabulous ladies and welcome to the Beat the Winter Blues party! My name is Katie from Love is Everywhere (http://loveiseverywhere.blogspot.com/) and I am incredibly thrilled to be a part of this.

I live in New England and it’s been quite a long winter here. The snow, rain, sleet.. you name it, has not stopped coming down so activities are a bit limited. Sure there’s the adventurous hikes if you don’t mind getting your boots soaked. Skiing if you like the wind burn or runny nose. Ice Skating is fun too but there’s the chance of hitting the ground hard which leaves some love bruises in random places.

So I wanted to think of some fun and creative things to do that make us feel good. Also, most of all something that can make someone else feel great, make their day, because after all the end result is truly gratifying.

If you’re anything like me I save way too much. I have scrap paper, markers with non matching caps, strips of ribbon, wrapping paper and blank greeting cards. I wish that I had gotten in the habit of writing Thank You cards as a child but sadly I never did. Recently though after receiving some I realized how great of a feeling it is. So pull out some paper, or if you have a blank card write a sweet love note to someone you know would really appreciate it. Someone random, you’ll make their day – I promise!

It’s so easy to spend money going out every weekend in the winter just to get out of our house to avoid cabin fever. There’s plenty though we can do to lift the spirits inside our home. One of my favorites is getting a cheap but delicious bottle of wine. To make this extra special invite over a friend or relative that you know may be going through a rough time lately. Perhaps, it’s someone that has so much on their plate that you feel deserves to have a night just for them. Fill up those wine glasses and make a quick little veggie platter. Let them know that this is a night for them to relax, indulge and vent. Sometimes we just need someone to tell us that it’s okay to express how we’re feeling and we’re there for them.

The timing of this feature came at a perfect time in my life. I recently took on a challenge of doing 29 Days of Giving. I feel this is something that would benefit anyone. Whether you take on the challenge and write about or just do this on your own so that YOU is beautiful. Each day you do something for someone else whatever it may be. Paying for their coffee, giving someone a much needed hug, helping someone with groceries, anything you can think of that would be feel great if it was being given to you.

Indulge your Sweet tooth to BEAT the Winter BLUES

If you want a healthy indulgence you should make this...

(boring)

As for me, I am going this way...

chocolate cookies with frosting and a walnut on top. You know you want to make it!

I think this recipe is a family secret, so much for family secrets. I'm going to call them Chocolate Drop Walnut Cookies!

Recipe:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2 ounce melted unsweetened chocolate (cool)

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

walnuts

Mix thoroughly, butter, egg, sugar, chocolate, buttermilk, and vanilla. Stir in flour, soda and salt. Cover and chill for one hour

Heat oven to 400 degrees, drop teaspoonfuls on baking sheet. Bake  for 8-1o minutes.

Let them cool. Frost them and drop a walnut on top.

Eat until your sweet tooth is quenched!

Come link up your indulgences. The party is @ Momnivore's Dilemma



Fresh Air it BEATS the Winter BLUES!

Getting fresh air and a little sunshine is very helpful to Beat the Winter Blues.

Looks like perfect weather to go outside in...

and yesterday we had a few snow flakes...

so we bundled up...

My son was unsure of the snow at first...

It must have passed the Emmett test because he dove right on in.

We avoided the yellow snow....

and we tried to make a snow angel...

 Give him a break he is only 15 months!

After 3o minutes he had enough of the freezing cold and ran to the front door.

Or maybe the running had something to do with me telling him it was lunch time. 

It snowed 22 inches and the wind-chill tonight is 10 below, brrrrrrrrrrrr!

The weather didn't stop us from getting some fresh air!

Link up your going outside adventures, even  if it is a picture of you heading to the grocery store!

Here are the Guidelines:

Please follow or subscribe to my blog feed
Please link up a new or old post to today's topic!
Don't forget the party is @ Momnivore Dilemma tomorrow 2/4/11, subject-indulge your sweet tooth!

Please grab my button or put a hyper link at the bottom of your post so everyone can join in on Beat the Winter Blues!

A Picture is worth a thousand words...

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what would you say about this couple...

This was a special wedding gift from my in laws. I felt SO special when I opened it that I hung it above the toilet.

I have only two other pictures framed in my house. This adorable baby...

and my grandfather (small framed picture next to adorable baby).

Here's the deal: I love to take pictures and keep them in these beautiful and stylish boxes...

I have taken over 2000 pictures of my son and I have been saying FOREVER that I will put them in albums. I also want to finish his baby book. I just have this feeling when he is 21 he is going to say, "Mom where is my baby book, I would like to see pictures of me as a baby."  I don't want to be unprepared for that moment (although I do have another 19 1/2 years to prep for it and at the rate I'm going I might take advantage of it). 

Task #1 Put pictures into album. That was easy.

Task #2 Write date next to pictures (not so easy so I just started making up dates).

Task #3 Frame these picture...

Well that didn't get done because we have a HUGE snow storm a brewing, but you know what you can do for me, leave comments about how cute my son is. That will make up for the weather delay.

p.s. my sons third word was "CHEESE!"

I linked up @ Momnivore's Dilemma because the party is over!

I also love this idea, Project 365: How to Take a Photo a Day and See Your Life in a Whole New Way. I think I might take this challenge on!