New Year's Resolutions... Er, New Year's "List"

I've never set New Year's Resolutions before-- too much pressure.  But lists?  I love lists.  I live by lists-- grocery lists, things-to-do-today lists,  bills to pay lists, birthday gift lists, wish lists, etc.  And there's something so gratifying about crossing that important "to-do" off the list too. 
So this year, in lieu of ignoring a New Year's Resolution, I thought I'd do a New Year's List-- A list of things that I hope to accomplish this year.  Some practical, some silly, and some mundane.  Then I can come back every few months or so and cross off the stuff that I've accomplished-- crossing off stuff... that's the gratifying part.

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2010 - The Year of the Organizer

Lookie, I already got to cross-off some stuff!

Set-up and organize my craft room/mud room

circa January 2010

• buy desk and shelving unit
• buy baskets to organize shelving unit
• buy not too spendy shelves and other organizational gizmos for the walk-in closet
• buy/create a gift wrapping area for not too much $$
• buy/create a message or chalkboard
• buy mudroom stuff-- hooks, bench, shoe storage, etc.
• hang wall art
• actually unload boxes and organize all the stuff!

Set-up and organize the office

circa January 2010

• Order office furniture
• Hang wall art
• Organize files (ick!)
• Unload boxes and organize the other stuff (double ick!)
• The electronic/computer set-up is all The Mister's "to-do".

Set-up and organize the kid's playroom

the playroom in all it's glory - circa January 2010

• Buy shelving to organize toys
• Buy system to hang kid's art
• Set up organizer
• Set-up art wall system
• Set-up photo wall
• buy/set-up a magnetic wall for all those magnetic toys that don't stick to our non-magnetic refrigerator.
• Buy/install more lighting... aside from the family room, the 2nd dimmest room in the house!

Set-up a wall calendar, mail sorter, bulletin board area to keep us up-to-date and on schedule

• order/make large reusable monthly calendar
• organize mail bins (already bought but never set-up at old house)
• buy/make a pretty message board 
• set it up so it's both lovely and useful

Organize the walk-in pantry and kitchen drawers

photo circa January 2010

• figure out how to organize a walk-in pantry... don't know how since I've never had one before.
• buy canisters, bins and drawer organizers
• make those canisters cute!  Very important-- ha, ha!

For the Rest of the House

• Hang wall art, frames and mirrors in all rooms
• Set-up decor
• Figure out what we're going to do with the random tables and wall art.
• Window Treatments... We're in desperate need of new window treatments. The ones that came with the house are literally falling apart, or are broken and can't be opened or closed.  I'm sure they're hazardous to the kids as well (sigh).
• Lighting...Either buy more lamps or call an electrician to install ceiling lights in the kids rooms, family room and bonus room.  It's very dim at night.
• Set-up Happy Vee's big boy room.
• Clear out the old house, minor touch-ups and either sell or rent it.
• Set up the kid's playset in the backyard.

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Fun Plans for Me

via Makes and Takes

• Blog more... it's a great creative and stress outlet.
• Read more... should be easier with the Kindle.
• Cook more... without groaning.
• Create a monthly meal plan... less grocery shopping on the fly.
• Hang out with my girlfriends more. 
• Actually go to a theater and see a movie in 2010-- that's a BIGGEE... it's been a couple of years since I've seen a movie from start to finish, let alone in a, gasp!,  theater.
• Find a babysitter
• Make homemade marshmallows-- I'm not even a marshmallow fan, but supposedly homemade ones are to-die-for and they just look Fun!
• Figure out what to do with all the baby stuff (sniff)
• Go on dates more-- Spend more personal, kid-free time together... that's a hard one!
• Take a zumba or yoga class... or maybe a bollywood class-- fun!
• Get my hair cut (at least more than once per year)
• Enjoy every precious (and sometimes, not so precious) moment with my two awesome boys.  They just grow up way to fast (sniff sniff).

Travel

Kauai

• Oregon - I'm hoping we can make a trip this spring to visit friends and also sneak in a spa treatment or two.
• Alaska - The Mister and I have always wanted to go on an Alaskan Cruise-- even though I'm not a big fan of cruises due to one unfortunate Norovirus-tinged Mexican Riviera cruise we took 7 years ago.  But evidently there are deals to be had, and although the kids are still on the young-side, they do travel pretty well...
• Hawaii - We missed our annual trip last year, so it's up there on my list.  I'm hoping we can visit with family and also get some R&R at a nice, kid-friendly resort.
• San Diego is always on our list... try to get there one weekend a month.
• Maybe do a roadtrip up north to San Francisco or Monterey-- It's doable with a few stops along the way.
• Wow, there's no way we can fit in all this travel in 11 months... but I'll just keep it on the list.

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This list is a work-in-progress, so I'll be stopping by every now and then to cross-off stuff and add more to-do's.  Wow, writing that all down was really therapeutic!

Organize this madness!

I'm not sure if it's the New Year or the recent Move, but I've been desperate to get organized these past few weeks-- Obsessed really.  And it doesn't help that I look at THIS madness every day. Let's just revisit the insanity that is supposed to be my craft room ...

Scary, huh!!!  So anyhow, here are a few finds that will hopefully put me on the right track and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to get some of my sanity back.

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So on the spur of the moment, we jumped into the mini-vee and headed down to our nearest Ikea and Pottery Barn.  After seeing it in person, I decided pretty quickly that the Expedit desk & shelf combo would fit my needs... plus, the attractive price doesn't hurt either.  I just need to clear out some space in this dump, I mean craft room, so we can assemble it.  If all the stars align, maybe it'll be this weekend--

Also found these lovelies (Ikea Knipsa) to organize the Expedit.  They are collapsible and smell wonderful since they're made out of sea grass.  Now I'm bouncing around ideas on how to cutely and effectively label these baskets--

Also, since this room doesn't have any ceiling lights, I bought these cabinet lights (Inreda) to attach to the top of the Expedit.  I have to be able to see what I'm crafting, right?

I'm thinking of turning this into a message, chalk or magnetic board for the craft room.  The Mister looked at me like I was crazy (not his type of decor, I guess), but it's right up my alley.  Now I just have to figure out what kind of board it's going to be--

Since they're having a "Storage Event", we did purchase one thing from Pottery Barn Kids for the bonus/playroom... by the way, it's cheaper in-store--

  I can't wait to get started!  Now, if I can only convince The Mister that we must assemble N-O-W.

Super Heroes!

"Jeepers, Super Smarty Pants, how many pictures is that crazy lady going to take?"

"Not to worry, Super Happy Vee, revenge will be ours... No Naps Today!!! {insert evil laugh} Boo-ha-ha-ha!!!"

My kiddos love to play "super hero" with all the disarray still happening in our house. They just run by, capes a-flappin', pushing boxes & pillows out of the way and occasionally bouncing off the mirrors and frames that are still lining the walls...  I guess you aren't a super hero if you haven't risked life and limb-- or at least a scolding by that scowling lady who keeps threatening Time-Out.

Capes & Masks from Super Fly Kidz

The Craft Room - Martha Inspiration

"The Craft Room"... just saying these 3 words, brings a smile to my face and gives me the warm and fuzzies.  It's really not just a room to do crafts, but I think of it as my own little piece of sanity... at least that's my goal, anyhow.

So right now, it looks like this...  A freaking dumping ground for all things that have yet to find "a home".  This could be bad folks, so I'm taking control-- Will buy organizational items so I am forced to clear out this wayward junk.

And look who's here to inspire me.  None other than the great dame of organizational divinity--

I'm already digging that galvanized bucket filled with wrapping paper.

What a neat space!  I wish more homes in California had useable attic space and basements.  I'm not half as crafty as Martha, so I definitely won't need all those desks, but wouldn't it be awesome to have all that organized, horizonal space on which to create?--

Great way to organize a desk hutch.  I think I'm going to pick up some jars when I'm at Ikea next.--

While I would LOVE to have Martha's craft room, I'm still looking for something different... something else. 

Right now I'm stuck on the Ikea Expedit...

Which would become something like this ...

or perhaps this...  The price and the functionality of the Expedit truly amazes--

I'm also thinking about the ridiculously expensive Pottery Barn Project Table or one of it's knock-off cousins... the price keeps driving me away though--

Pottery Barn always upsets me.  Why are they so inconsisent on their store, catalog and web prices?  And what's with all these surcharges?  I have a feeling a $1,000 splurge on a veneer table will not be happening... at least I have my common sense!

Well, as you can see, I'm chomping at the bit to get started.  Now I just have to convince The Mister to take a little drive to visit Pottery Barn and Ikea ASAP.  Can't wait!!

What do I do with the leftover candy canes?

Valentine's Day... Really??   I feel like we just took down the Christmas Tree... Oh wait, we did... The other day...

We were out and about running errands today and I noticed that many of the stores are already decked out in Valentine's red, white & pink regalia... sigh.  Damn them marketers! Oh well, sometimes you just have to run with it.

So, of course, as soon as I came home I had to search for Valentine's card ideas for the kiddos to give their classmates and teachers.  Seriously, damn them marketers!

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1. Smarty Pants would dig these ones.  I kinda like that they're not candy.  I know, I'm a party pooper...

2. Must keep an eye out for chocolate cars...

3. and 4. Smarty Pant's girlfriends would love these...

5. And some gender neutral ones...

6. I did these crayons last year for an easter egg hunt--

7. These are supposed to be garden gnomes.  They crack me up for some reason, but probably too much work for a little kiss (I know, there's a joke in there somewhere)--

8. I also like this idea, teddy grahams are a favorite around here--

9. This is a good one too.  I'd probably put fruit snacks instead of candy...

10. Ooh, I'm lovin' these too...

11. These are cute, and the kids would like them even more with a chocolate heart glued onto the palm of the hand...

12.  Somehow I don't think Smarty Pants will go for this one.  Maybe for Happy Vee's Mommy & Me class--

Well, thanks to the damn marketers, I guess the kid's friends won't be getting the generic stuff this year-- you know the stuff that gets picked-over at the "Valentine's" section at Target.  I have a little time to prepare, right? 

Photos 1 - 9  & 12 via Family Fun ~ Photos 10 & 11 via Martha Stewart Living

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the WWW (whole wide world, that is)

The other day Smarty Pants and I made some of the best, soft, chocolate chip cookies that I've ever had.  I come from a crunchy cookie family, so I wasn't sure if the "soft" cookie would be for me.  Let's just say that if these cookies had a theme song, it'd go something like this--  "There's a party in my tummy. So yummy! So yummy!"  Sorry, Yo Gabba Gabba is getting to me.

Smarty Pants tries out the new Learning Tower that the boys got from Grandma Tee for Christmas...

Happy Vee, our trusted taste tester, is serious about his food.  I think these cookies put him in a chocolate & sugar induced food coma...

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Recipe, you ask?  Why sure, here it is:

For 3 Dozen Yummy, Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

2 1/4 cup flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs, whisked
1 T. vanilla extract

2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips (I used 1 cup white choc./1 cup semi sweet)
1 1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional, of course.  I used sliced almonds, chopped walnuts or macadamia nut would be good too)

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1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a med. bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt and set aside
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar & white sugar
4. Beat in instant pudding mix until blended
5. Stir in whisked eggs and vanilla
6. Blend in flour mixture
7. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts
8. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.  The cookie won't spread much, so you can fit at least 12 on a pan.**
9. Bake 9-12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet until edges are a golden brown
10. Cool on a baking rack, wait 2 minutes, and enjoy!

**tip:  If reusing a hot pan, make sure to bring it back to room temperature before putting another batch of dough in the oven.  Trust me, you don't want to burn ANY! You can speed up the process by letting it sit in cool water.

Closer you ask?

C'mon, lean in a little... they smell lovely!

If I had a girl...

No, no, no!!! Ahem...remember, I said IF... I'd paint the walls blue and use pretty and feminine colors to liven it up.  No pepto-pink walls for me, I mean, for her... if there was a her... You know what I mean!

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Very simply styled, but no one would call this room plain. I especially love the floral fabric used for the valance...

And the embroidery hoops are right up my fabric-lovin' alley...

Another beautiful, sunny & breezy room, complete with my beloved Expedit bookcase...

And more pretty embroidery hoops...

Yes, I admit, babies are on my mind.  It was this time 2 years ago that I became pregnant with Happy Vee... There must be something about that 17th postpartum month!  Daddy Vee keeps reminding me to get rid of all the baby stuff, so apparently men don't have that 17th month thing.  Ah well, as they say, "never say never"!

All photos via Ohdeedoh.

The *!$%?@!?!! Christmas Card

I know I shouldn't curse when it comes to the Christmas card-- seems sacrilegious, I suppose... But seriously, every year I drive myself crazy trying to think of something "original" to do.  "Original" meaning, not posing in front of the fireplace (sorry mom!).  My own fault, I know.

So this year, even though I knew I'd be pushing it with the move and all, plus not having the computer hooked up, plus having to convince the 3-and-under-crowd that it was important to pay attention and follow directions... I just HAD to run with this fabulous idea that I discovered a while ago (years? months?) while surfing the web.  It just made sense since it reflects heavily on the realities of parenting young children.  What's this hubbub she's babbling about you ask?

After a week of hashing it out with Photoshop late into the wee hours and 30-something odd drafts later, I finally finished "the card" just in time to get it out before Santa came a'calling. Well take a look-see...

It definitely could've used a little more tweaking-- i.e. erase shadow behind Smarty Pants, but in the spirit of all things good, I decided to let it go.  Plus, me with no sleep = grouchy mommy.

Wishing You & Yours Loads of Joy & Cheer. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Decor - Minimalist Style

Since we just moved a couple of weeks ago, decorating for the Holidays is about 10th on the list of "things I must do today"--  Right behind, find all my measuring spoons and cups, which have somehow fallen into a blackhole (or more likely, a mismarked box).

But with dear Smarty Pants worrying that Santa wouldn't stop by our house because we don't have a Christmas tree, let alone a single Christmas decoration, I put aside my unpacking to set up some Christmas Cheer.  Can't disappoint Santa, yah know??

Hmmm... the tree didn't hit the ceiling at our old house.  Oh well, at least it's skinny enough to tuck beside the couch which makes it less of a target for Happy Vee, our ornament stealing bandit.  It's okay if we only used 1/4 of our ornaments, right?  Because the other 3/4's are M.I.A. and I have a better chance of finding them next Christmas.

It really was the perfect tree for our old house though.  Tall enough to fill the nook of our semi-circular staircase and thin enough not to block the hallway.  Maybe one day we can "gift" it to the new owners. See, it fit the old house perfectly...

Usually, I display our Christmas Cards in a more artistic manner, but they definitely warmed up our lean & mean, bare mantle...

Next year I'm going to recreate the "ribbon on the door" Christmas card display of years past...

Yep, so that was it for our Christmas decor this year.  Kinda minimal, but it pleased our Christmas-lovin' preschooler and put us in the right spirit of the holidays.  I have to say, though, it was awesome being able to clean up everything in less than an hour-- maybe there is something to this "minimalism" stuff.

Fun Holiday Foods

I'm not picky, I love almost all food.  And I like food even better when it's presented in a fun or pretty way.

Here are a couple of fun ways to liven up even the most mundane appetizers--

Crudite platter... boring. But crudite arranged like a Christmas Tree, just plain fun!  Okay, I was super busy and asked Dad Tee to take a picture, um, which is why the angle is not quite right.  The white cauliflower (aka snow) should be at the bottom. 

A plate of olives...ho-hum. But olives disguised as penguins with a little cream cheese and some carrot slice accents-- fun!  Would've looked better if I piped the cream cheese, but at least you can tell I didn't buy them. Couldn't keep the kids away, hence the cute, little round eye hovering on the left side of the picture.

Now if I could only convince Smarty Pants to eat my cute, fun food.  That kid makes other picky eaters look like little piggies.  Ah well, I had fun putting it together!