First of all – real quick. Notice the new navigation bar at the top? If not, refresh. Ahh, there we go. Much better now. : )
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Paint? Yes – we’re having a paint giveaway. I don’t know about you, but I have a few pieces of furniture that are ready for a little update. I’m actually planning to embark on a little painting project sometime during the Christmas break … I hope. That darn “spare time” keeps running away from me but the ideas are so in my head. : )
The product I’m planning to use is the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It looks amazing. And that’s what we’re giving away! A randomly selected winner will receive a huge Holiday Gift Basket of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! This includes 2 quarts of paint (your choice of colors), Clear Wax, Dark Wax, Creating the French Look (book by Annie Sloan), 2” Chip Brush, 3” Chip Brush, 20 count roll of cheesecloth, and a Sample Deck of all the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint colors.
Retail value = $198
Um, yeah. Pretty sweet. You know what’s even sweeter? Annie Sloan’s North America tour has just been announced. Annie will be coming to America in March, and the lucky winner will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a $350 gift certificate! This gift certificate can be used to purchase more Chalk Paint or for registration for Annie’s workshop. So, the total retail value of this giveaway is now up to $548! That grand prize winner will be announced on Annie’s Blog on January 10, 2012.
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Giveaway: Leave a comment with your first name, city, state (U.S. only for this giveaway) … and tell us if you have a specific project in mind, just for fun. Also, be sure to visit ShadesofAmber.net to scope out the colors. Be sure to mention which 2 colors you think you’ll want if you win. If you are entering for a chance to win, please be sure to check back here tomorrow so you don’t miss the announcement.
About Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: Painters, DIYers, crafters, and bloggers are buzzing about this new furniture paint because it goes over just about anything and there is absolutely no prep work involved. No sanding, no stripping, no priming, no kidding! With Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, you can transform your worn or outdated furniture into high end pieces with a gorgeous patina and luscious soft finish.
About Shades of Amber: They are an independent retailer of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. Check out their website + blog. Please visit anniesloanunfolded.com for a full list of retailers.
I’m really glad we turned this into a video contest this year because if we hadn’t, I would likely never seen this video. And oh, how I love this video.
Kris Murray of Three Hills, Alberta, Canada nailed it. She totally captured the whole day-in-the-life theme. She makes me want to take all those family video clips that I’ve been collecting and put them to music and make some family movies, which is something I would love to spend more time doing. I absolutely adore this look into her daily routine – her real life – which is something that I know a lot of us can relate to with kids + housework. Even if that’s not your life at all, hopefully you will be inspired to document your everyday.
Kris used a Panasonic Lumix FZ35 to film, and edited the video with iMovie on her Mac computer.
Her comments: I’m always searching the Internet for fun, catchy songs that I can use along with my home videos and I was ecstatic when I came across Joy Williams! I’ve never heard tell of her but fell in love with her quirky, upbeat, real-life lyrics and have actually put together a few videos using her songs.
When I heard “One Of Those Days”, I immediately thought of the craziness that is piled into a 24-hour time period in the Murray household and knew what had to be done. So, I committed to carrying around my camera for the WHOLE day and record EVERYTHING, from my family waking up on the wrong side of the bed, to morning coffee, tantrums, play/crafts, nap time, lunch/supper, laundry, right up until bedtime when my son conveniently falls out his bed. The day I chose to record our life couldn’t have been more fitting for the song.
Kris, you have utterly inspired me. Thank you for sharing!
Yesterday’s post was plenty wordy. I’ll keep it very, very visual today. My friend Megan has been working on a photo gallery wall in their master bedroom and the results are just completely beautiful. Here’s a little inspiration for your day.
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Megan’s wall inspires me personally in 3 ways:
1. The family pictures are a combination of formal portraits and candid shots … taken with her iPhone. Yes, pictures from your phone can absolutely be framed on your wall. I so love that she included those.
2. The neutral colors of all the frames allow the photographs to really pop. (Indeed, spray-painting was involved.)
3. It’s DONE! An actual, real, completed project. The reason that inspires me is because I have many unfinished projects. For example — this lovely little stash of frames has been collecting in our upstairs hallway for a few weeks now. Okay, let’s get real. It’s been months. Many months. In fact, I’m not even sure how many months.
This is what’s currently on the wall. I love the pictures. They’re family classics. The pictures are couples of our heritage – both sets of parents and 4 sets of grandparents. Also adorning the wall (for months) is this magazine tear-out that inspires me. It’s what I’ve been thinking about doing on this wall for quite some time.
I tore it out from a Pottery Barn catalog.
I like my little collection of family pictures. But the wall is quite large and my current collage is small. Too small-scale for the hallway – for sure. See what I mean?
But the pile of frames will sit a while longer. I have far too much going on right now. I have more cool products to develop for you! My priorities are straight. ; )
Okay, seriously – if anyone has a killer idea for this wall, PLEASE share a link. I’m in no hurry to complete the project and I’m completely open to other ideas, especially because a certain someone in this house isn’t convinced that photo collages are his thing. So … a grid? Perhaps 3 giant vertical posters? I don’t know.
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And just like that, I got wordy with a post that was supposed to be purely visual.
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Thank you Megan for sharing your inspiring wall with us! I have a feeling a few more photo gallery walls are going to be popping up. If you want to share your photo gallery wall with me, email submissions@beckyhiggins.com. I would love to see!
This morning I woke up to temperatures in the 70s. The 70s! Since this is still technically Summer … and I technically live in Arizona (a.k.a. the desert) … these temperatures are a little glimpse of heaven. It’s actually dipping below 100 degrees during the peak of the day here. People: There is potential for gloriousness right around the corner.
Do you know what this means?? Fall is really coming! I know I’m not alone when I say: Fall is my FAVORITE.
The best part ever, is that this “Fall Fever” I seem to be catching right now is coming at just the right time. You see, I’m headed to St. Paul, Minnesota this week for The Creative Connection where the high temps are in the 50s and 60s. Are you kidding me? I’m so giddy. Must pack cardigans. And perhaps a scarf?
TCC is a gathering of women with passion and creative talent and ambition and entrepreneurial spirits. I’ve never been, but I love the idea. And since I was invited to participate, I will soon be mingling with these fine people … in cool, Fall weather! I will address about 500 attendees on Thursday during a keynote luncheon panel, along side Stacy Julian of Big Picture Classes and Nora Abousteit of BurdaStyle.
Because of this commitment – and what seems to be a million other things swirling around right now – I will be taking a short “blog break” and you may not see a new post here for several days. So … I’m going to leave you with lots of pretty pictures. Claire (nearly 6 now) urged me to bust out the Fall decorations and she eagerly helped me decorate the other day.
No time for new projects right now. No interest in buying any additional items. Just using what we already have. A little dash of Fall has now been sprinkled over the Higgins home. ; )
The picture of that adorable purple dragon is Porter six years ago – when we lived in Ohio. Makes me smile every time I see it.
This is one of the many free downloads I have in my Free Stuff section. Look for “Home is Comfort” in the sidebar (available in four colors).
Check out the details of making over my little pumpkins in THIS POST.
Last year I blogged the how-to on this pumpkin frame project HERE.
I am a fan of having “older” pictures around the house and incorporated into decor. This picture is 6 years old and still a favorite … plus perfectly fitting for Fall. And these childhood pictures of me & David? They’re a year-round classic in our home. Isn’t David the cutest?
If you’re interested in seeing how we decorated last year (slightly different … always fun to change things up a bit, right?), HERE is that 2010 blog post.
Remember that video I did for the Big Giveaway from last month? Remember at the end, how I pointed out the knob issue in the background? Well … I finally got around to switching those knobs.
I present to you … my latest home project. Ta-dahhh!
Everyone loves before + after shots. So here you go.
Aria cabinet: We got this from World Market about 5 years ago.
Cabinet function: We store CDs, DVDs, games, and other random little stuff.
Knobs: I picked these up from Hobby Lobby. They have a great knob selection and I was in the mood for a variety … but all black + white. The letters are family name initials.
Big wooden/painted frame on top of cabinet: Found at a boutique in Gardner Village south of Salt Lake City.
Green paint on the walls: It’s just about as Chartreuse as you can get. I don’t have an official paint name for it because I had Home Depot make the paint color based on matching a swatch of something … five years ago.
Super Helpful Project Assistant: Crew – age 2.
Time it took to switch all of the knobs: 15 minutes.
Time it took screw some back in after Crew realized he could loosen the knobs: 2 minutes.
Congrats to the winner of Thursday’s giveaway: Karen in St. John’s, Arizona! She said “I would love to do t-shirts for family and friends to support my sister in Paralympic competition!” What a great idea, Karen. Shoot an email to Ricky@tamboink.com and they’ll hook you up with $50 toward your custom t-shirt order.
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Remember the Kiki Creates giveaway I did back in March? I said, “Check out this print. It’s fill-in-the-blank style and you write on the glass with dry-erase marker and change it as often as you want. I’m so getting this for each of my kids.”
Well I so did. I got 3 prints, put them in these frames from Target, attached them to the wall (with our favorite velcro) — the wall we see as we come in from the garage. And there is a dry-erase marker resting on top of the top frame for our convenience. Our little messages can change within a matter of seconds. Any time we feel like it.
I love that this is now the first thing the kids see as they walk in the door each day. Just another fun way to help our kids feel loved and special. And I love that this little project helps us to focus on the specifics of what we love about them. Sometimes it’s silly and light-hearted. Other times it’s more thoughtful and sincere. That’s the fun in rotating the sentiments frequently.
You can find Kiki’s latest designs in her super cute etsy shop. Plus, she has a wonderfully patriotic (and free) downloadable print here.
Speaking of my home office (did you see my real-life photos in yesterday’s post?) … Creating Keepsakes has a brand-new special issue hitting newsstands now. It’s called Creative Spaces 2011. You can even virtually flip through a few pages in the sneak peek here.
They have featured my home office in this issue and there are a LOT of other really inspiring spaces to see in this issue. Want a chance to win a copy of this for free? Leave your name and mention where you live. This giveaway is open to everyone — even international readers. Oh, and here’s a coupon code that you can use to get free shipping within the U.S., if you’re planning to make the purchase: SPACESBB. This expires May 27. The winner will be announced on Friday.
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Oh, and guess what? Laura Vanderbeek is doing a giveaway for my Bundle of Basics on her blog right now. Check that out HERE! And because we just love doing giveaways for our readers, I will be doing another one tomorrow. Right here. Stay tuned for a chance to win a seat in Laura’s newest online class!
That’s how much time I spent snapping 20 pictures around my home-based office. This is a look at real life in this space, right now. This place is sometimes very tidy and clean. And sometimes, it’s just not. We get behind on stuff. Things pile up. Messes are made. Projects are in the making.
Now is one of those times. And since most of the pictures you’ve seen of my office space are all pretty and orderly, I wanted to share these real-life glimpses. Oh, and by “my” home office space you know I mean … my family’s office space. We’re all in here.
Sometimes you’ll find David and me on the side-by-side computers, each doing our thing … the business, the bills, the emails, the vacation research, the whatever. Sometimes you’ll find Crew laying across the floor, playing on the iPad, always with his favorite blanket somehow attached. Sometimes you’ll find Porter and Claire working on some art project together.
Sometimes I’m in this space all alone. Love having my family around. Also love peace & quiet once in a while. Zoning into my work. Creating. Learning. Blogging. Doing my thing.
So here we go.
This is right by my computer. I keep this reminder of 3 of my greatest blessings within view at all times.
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A project-in-process. I just need one more frame and then I have a trio to hang. Until then, this stuff is clutter on my countertop.
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I found this giant wooden LIFE sculpture at Down to Earth, a boutique at Gardner Village in West Jordan, Utah. Totally worth hand-carrying this on the flight back to Arizona. Still unsure of where exactly it will land in the office. I just knew I had to have it. (Think: Project Life. Yes, I also found smaller letters to spell PROJECT.)
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Kelly Green is in the Top 5 colors that just speak to me right now. So when I spotted this bag at Cherry Lane Boutique in Provo, Utah a couple weeks again … well, I guess I just couldn’t resist.
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Claire gave a little talk in church yesterday. We used some beautiful artwork to accompany what she spoke about and I still need to get these prints put back in their spot.
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The remnants of salsa. Eating at the computer is not a good habit — I know.
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Papers, papers, papers near the computer. To-do lists, blog calendar, shopping list, school papers, work stuff, and other stuff that I just really need to go through SOON. I bet half of this stash can be recycled right now.
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This old alphabet puzzle has been in our family for YEARS (notice the splitting wood and worn letters) and it’s definitely Crew’s favorite go-to toy right now. That, and Porter’s green shoes (you can see one nearby). So random that Crew loves those shoes, but it’s so completely darling when he puts them on and walks around in his big brother’s shoes.
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Like I said — the family is always close by. Here Porter is positioned in his chair just right as he organizes Pokemon cards. He’s sporting some Sunday pants that I hemmed. My first attempt at hemming (6 months ago), thanks to my friend Heidi telling me the steps. I was pretty excited that I actually did it. Now I can’t remember how to hem pants. Of course I can’t.
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Claire is coloring and just barely finished some artwork that we are putting in the mail today for a friend who moved away last year.
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I am at least 5 months behind on sorting the kids’ latest artwork and school papers. At least I’ve been stacking them in one place. When the school year is over, I have a game plan. It involves going through all of this with the kids — recycling, scanning, labeling, and organizing. Can’t wait for our new products coming later this Summer, which will really help with the end result of preserving this stuff.
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Pictures in frames around the office. And of course some are spray-painted (in this case, the pink one).
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These bobby pins belong to Becki. She accidentally left them here when she came over to cut my hair. Or maybe I secretly hid them so I could keep them. Actually, I am a total slacker for not putting these in the mail to her (we live well over an hour away from each other; not a quick errand).
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Another excellent find at Gardner Village. Spotted this in a little boutique called Sassy Babies. Why am I so darn attracted to polka dots? I can’t escape them. Also worth hand-carrying on the flight home.
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Wrapping up the LAST pages of the Personal Yearbook project for both Porter’s 2nd grade class and Claire’s preschool class. I’ll admit — I was in over my head this year. It was too much for this mama to keep up with, particularly with a napping toddler at home and scheduling it all in. But I did keep up — barely. And I’m so glad. Aaand … I really need to re-think my approach for next year. The project is awesome. And simple. But keeping up with 2 large classes (with everything else I have going on)? A bit much, honestly. Lesson learned.
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Got these Easter Pez surprises for the kids and completely forgot to give them to them. Parents of the Year.
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These are not current, but they are still two of my favorite works of art from Porter (left) and Claire (right) from a few years ago. I truly love my kids’ artwork. Makes me so happy.
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I keep Porter’s cub scout items in the office since it’s right by our door to the garage and we’re always rushed when we leave for Scouts.
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Found these Brushing Beauties at Home Goods. Picked up a few for a few of my friends with whom I’ll be seeing later today for a church-related meeting. So cute and domestic.
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The mail pile, which desperately needs our attention – stat!
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Two minutes. Twenty pictures. Two-hundred stories that could be told just from these glimpses and what they say about our family, our lifestyle, our current phase of life.
What about you? Will you consider picking up the camera and shooting around one room in your home for just two minutes? This is documenting real life as it’s happening – is it not?
In honor of Mom-was-so-in-the-mood-to-dejunkify … We recently had a big clearing-out party in the play room. It was so necessary. I have no idea where half of this stuff even came from.
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Step 1: Dump everything on the floor. We were pretty much half-way there already. Couldn’t even walk in that room without some small injury for the few days leading up to this. It’s not usually that messy.
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Step 2: Sort, sort, sort. A place for trash and a place for donations. As for everything we kept, I grouped all the game pieces (to put back with their respective games), puzzle pieces (same thing), and other small things that needed to be put with their likenesses.
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Step 3: A place for everything and everything in its place.
This incredibly functional piece of furniture is from Razmataz (years ago). Lots of drawers and cupboards so that all the toys are easily accessible … without being visible all the time. Green boxes from IKEA.
Got these little wooden friends at World Market a few years ago. Fun play room accessories.
Our bookshelf is another Razmatz favorite from years ago. I so want to paint this but I’m not sure of a color. Nor can I seem to make the time for such a project. The big clock is from WalMart. Big frames from Costco Home. Porter’s 5-year-old handwritten alphabet is framed next to the lamp. Little leather chairs + ottomans from Creative Leather.
The handprint tradition continues. (See this post and this post for the info if you missed that before).
The kids’ bags & backpacks hang from these hooks (possibly Razmataz as well?) in the play room.
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The paint color in this room, by the way, is Caribe (UL220-1) by Behr at Home Depot. The grey is Castle Path (730C-3) from Dunn-Edwards. Castle Path is the light grey neutral that is throughout our other main rooms and halls.
We did not buy anything for this project. It was not a re-decorating or re-design at all. It was a cleaning project. It feels awesome to clear out so much and refresh our organization. The kids loved becoming reacquainted with toys they forgot about and loved donating toys they were ready to part with.
We had a giveaway over the weekend. Congratulations to the winner — Julie B. Nashville, Tennessee! Julie, register at ReneePearson.com with a user name and password. Then email Laura your ReneePearson.com User name (not your password) at laurav@reneepearson.com so she can get you registered for class. Congratulations!
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Do you have wood furniture that may be showing some signs of wear and tear? Notice the scratchy-looking fine lines in this end table.
I am no expert with wood. But remember our friend John who did some custom wood-based projects in our home? (See some of his brilliant work that he did here and here and here.) Anyway, he is an expert with wood and we trust him. John recommended this product — Briwax. You can find it here in my Amazon favorites.
I realize some of you have probably heard of Briwax, but to some of you, this is new news. It’s cool stuff. It works. I like it. And with this Spring weather, I do recommend opening a window for ventilation. It has a strong (not bad; just potent) smell. Just sayin’.
Here’s the context of that end table by the way. It’s in our family room and usually has a pile of books on it, which of course I left off just so you could see the beautifully touched-up surface. : )
I know you guys like to inquire, so …
End table & leather sectional: both from furniture stores that are likely not even in business anymore.
Basket: Another Target find; holds various little scrapbooks from over the years
Side note: I have been wanting to paint the end tables for quite some time. I’m thinking distressed white. Just waiting one two things: time and bravery.
I found this chick at Home Goods recently. Something about this little guy was irresistible. Maybe it’s because we really don’t have many Spring-specific decorations. Like – at all. Plus, Arizona usually skips Spring altogether (not this year – it’s been gorgeous!) and gets right to Summer. Anyway, I knew the kids would love this happy symbol of Spring. He’s pretty cute, isn’t he?
No offense to the chick, but I wasn’t a big fan of the gingham ribbon. No problem. I just dug through my trusty collection of ribbon scraps to find something a little more suitable for my taste.
Ah, yes. Black & white polka dots. Bold. Fun. Adorable.
Remember: Whether you already have something that just needs a little updating, or you come across a great find that isn’t quite “just right” … you can always change something little to customize and improve it.
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By the way, that little touch ties in nicely with the other black & white-ness I have going on these days. I love accessorizing with that classic contrasting combo. This fantastic bowl was around $10 or $15 at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx (I can never remember which one).
This faux fur zebra blanket from Target has quickly become our family’s absolute favorite. It’s ridiculously soft and perfect for snuggling. And again — that touch of black & white is so much fun.
Many of you are so over Winter and ready for Spring. Right? Here’s a little DIY project that will keep you cozy indoors and add a little bit of sunshine in your space. It’s a floral topiary and it is E-A-S-Y!
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This was my inspiration. My talented friend Megan made these and they’re the perfect splash of color and texture in her home. Are your wheels spinning with ideas yet? As you can see, the concept is super versatile. Her flowers and my flowers are different. Her arrangements set right in the candlestick things and mine is a tall topiary. Very different bases. Completely different results. And yet the process is pretty much the same.
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Basic supplies needed: styrofoam ball, flowers, hot glue gun (all found at your local craft store).
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You’ll also need a pot or candlestick or some sort of base. I love shops like Home Goods, Ross, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, etc. for great bargains on cool pieces. Target, WalMart, flea markets, yard sales … really, you can find something just about anywhere. You may even have something laying around your house that could use a fresh coat of paint.
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Your silk flowers will likely have stems.
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Step 1: Separate flowers from stems. This usually means just pulling them off.
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Step 2: Put hot glue on the bottom of a flower.
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Step 3: Press that flower into the styrofoam ball and hold it there for a few seconds to ensure it’s secure.
Tip: If your flowers have tips that stick out a little bit like mine did, push that into the styrofoam first so the little dent is already there. Then add the hot glue and press the flower into that indention.
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Step 4: Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
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Cover the entire ball except to leave part of the bottom uncovered. If you’re creating a piece like Megan’s, you could leave a larger section open to set in its base. If you’re making a topiary like mine, you’re only leaving a small space to insert a stick.
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Step 5 for a topiary: Shove floral foam in your base.
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Step 6: Insert your stick (I spray-painted mine silver) into the bottom of the ball.
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Step 7: Finish filling in the gaps with your last flowers.
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Step 8: Insert the topiary stick into the floral foam.
Tip: Cut the ends of your stick at an angle so that it’s easier to stick into both the floral foam as well as the styrofoam ball.
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Step 9: Use some mossy grassy stuff … or whatever you want at the base. Hot glue helps keep it all in place.
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Step 10: The finishing touch is to perhaps add a piece of fruit, or a few smaller pieces.
I don’t remember when I started saying this but probably around the time our kids were old enough to be picky about what food we were serving at the dinner table. And I certainly know I’m not alone in this expression. Raise your hand if those words have escaped your mouth.
It’s not just about food though.
Sometimes life just doesn’t feel fair. Sometimes we’re dealt stuff that makes us feel like complaining and bickering. The thing is — life is made up of this stuff. It’s unavoidable. And we either complain about it or we make the most of a tough situation. We can choose to think long & hard about what lessons we are to learn from the experience. And then we can be better for it. But we have to choose that. We have to choose to not “have a fit”.
This is part of cultivating a good life.
So here is the friendly yet bold reminder, in a printable JPG format … 3 colors to choose from in various sizes. Just head over to the Free Stuff page to download whatever you want.
Put this in your kitchen area to remind your kids to not be picky. Have it on your desk as a reminder to keep on keepin’ on, even when you’re not loving the next item on your to-do list. Wherever you use the print, may it be a simple reminder to keep your chin up, try new things, and have a positive attitude about it all.
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By the way, have you noticed the color change on my website? If not, refresh. Valentines is over so the red went buh-bye and we’re moving on to a fresh coat of paint around here.
Yesterday: Sick day for the kiddos. Two of our three tested positive for Strep the prior evening, so they started antibiotics immediately and we kept them away from the outside world so as to not continue spreading it.
The bad news: They missed school & friends & everything that happens on a typical Tuesday.
The good news: They hardly had noteworthy symptoms, so they really felt fine. Which meant … I got kind of a “free day” with all 3 kiddos. Yay us.
Welcome to my world: After sleeping in – serious yay — we had a little family council. (This is so me to do this. I get it from my parents.) Together, we came up with a list of what we hoped to accomplish in the day since no one was laying around “being” sick. I reminded the kids that each day when they go to school I have a checklist of things I hope to get done. Every. Single. Day. — that is my life. It’s how I stay focused, stay on track, and get so much done. They were on-board. As long as there was fun.
The first item checked? Climbing a tree, of course. By the end of the day, the only thing we didn’t check off was practicing piano & picking up the backyard. There’s always tomorrow.
So our day was really productive — a nice balance of work + fun. Just as it should be.
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The reason I share this? All day long a thought kept coming to my mind over and over and over. It’s something that one of my college professors shared some 15 year ago and I’ll never forget it.
“The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship.”
It was one of my Family Science classes and she encouraged us to say it over & over so we wouldn’t forget it.
The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship.
The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship.
The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship.
Okay, you get the idea. You see — when you think deeply about what this means, it completely changes the way you view every little activity you engage in with a loved one. Going on a date with your spouse, playing a game with your child, talking on the phone with your sister … these are obviously relationship-strengthening things. But think about the little, everyday, mundane stuff.
Think about working on homework with your child. Yes, the purpose is to help her excel. But the purpose is also to strengthen your relationship with her. And when you think about that, well … you become more patient, more encouraging, more engaging, more interested in making this a happy memory for her.
Think about making dinner with your husband. Yes, the purpose is to put food on the table for your family. But when you consider that another important purpose is to strengthen your relationship with him, you find yourself feeling kinder, more apt to ask him about his day and listen intently while preparing food together.
Think about paying bills.
Okay, never mind. But seriously — This line really does affect the way you feel about a task and how you feel about the person you’re doing it with.
Checklists are fantastic. Relationships are more important.
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***SPECIAL ADDITION***
I created a 4×6 print with this line in the next post HERE.
One common goal for many of us at the start of a New Year is of course, better health. Betting eating habits. Less sugar. More exercise. Less take-out. More water. Something along those lines … right?
One thing that has helped our family in the past is e-Mealz. I’ve talked about it here before. Many of you heard of it long before I ever did and some of you are already using the service. I’m bringing it up again now for two reasons:
1. Because in our little family, we’ve totally gotten off-track lately with consistently homemade dinners. Holidays, wacky schedules, stress, feeling slammed with so much to do. Excuses, excuses, excuses. We’re so ready to get back on-track.
2. There is an e-Mealz promotion going on right now that will knock off $2.50 from the already-cheap subscription price. Click HERE to learn more and if you sign up, enter ORGANIZE. This code expires January 31, 2011.
We’re so getting back on e-Mealz. If you’re not familiar with how it works, you’ll learn all about it on their site. For me (and anyone else who uses it), it helps in several areas – budget, weight management, simplifying, and organization.
I know you guys well enough to know you’re going to ask me for this recipe. It was an e-Mealz recipe we made this past Fall but I’m afraid I don’t remember which one, sorry. It involved stir-frying rotisserie chicken and zucchini and red peppers in a little olive oil and we added pine nuts. That’s all I remember. It was delicious.
I also know you’re going to ask me if the kids like the food. Mostly, yes. Our kids are picky eaters like most kids. Yes, they say “ewww” and “ugh!” more than once a week when they see a pile of vegetables on their plate. We’re over it. As we say over and over and over again – You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.
Here’s to more consistently homemade meals. Here’s to sitting around the table each night as a family. Here’s to better health and stronger family ties. Wishing each of you the very best with whatever your goals and resolutions may be.
We have some very special friends - the Fuchs ("fewks") family - that are adjusting to a "new normal" with their special-needs daughter who had a terrible accident and is now confined to a wheelchair. You can read all about it HERE
For the benefit of Claire's family - and also for the benefit of many generous sponsors - I opened my blog for advertising for one month only! This is temporary + the ads will run February 1 - 29, 2012. 100% of the ad fees have gone directly to Claire's family.
Because of the nature of this fundraiser and the need to keep the entire process very, very simple - we are not taking any more sponsors at this time. Anyone who wants to reach out to the Fuchs family with a note of encouragement, or a letter in the mail, or even a cash donation, can find that information HERE
