Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Coupons - I'll give it a try!




I just happened to see the show, Extreme Couponing, featuring "The Krazy Coupon Lady". It got me thinking..I should, at least, be clipping a coupon for cereal! It seems utterly impossible that a person can take 4 grocery carts through a checkout and spend under $50, but the show proved it possible. I want no part of that type of stress, but I was inspired to, at least, start clipping the coupons from the Sunday paper. I'll admit, her website is amazing. She makes printing coupons very easy. Her coupon database is right at your fingertips. Her Facebook page is awesome, as well. I don't plan on buying something just because I found a coupon for it. I'm too practical for that.






As I was working on the Drop-Stitched Scarf, I decided that I wanted to make it a neckwarmer, as I have so many scarves. The newest rage in the knitting world seem to be the neckwarmers and cowls, adorned with pretty accessories to hold in place. I loved this so much, that I made a second one for a friend. Notice the pretty, charmed accessory that I created as an anchor, to hold the neckwarmer in place. I bought some hair pins in the jewelry section of Hobby Lobby. These come with a flattened circle at the top, perfect for adding any type of bead or gem...and it works perfect to hold this accessory in place. I like! Meeting a friend for dinner, this evening - and surprising her with this. I hope she likes it, too.

Speaking of a friend, I'm very excited to be making my friend, Renee's gift, her birthday being in less than a month. I can't say what it is at this time, but it has to do with something we both love! More to come on this...
Finally, we have a winter wonderland. Everything is blanketed in white - so pretty! This is one of the views from my living room.






Monday, January 10, 2011

Scrapbooking, anyone?

Finally getting the craft room back in order. Really looking to get back into scrapping. I have everything I need at my fingertips..just need the motivation to get going! Have not scrapped in two years! Really have a lot of catching up to do! Planning on some girlfriend scrap nights, to get the ball rolling. This room now holds two 6-foot tables, which should be plenty big enough to welcome many.
Started a "Drop Stitch" scarf to pair up with my new charcoal wool coat..fun pattern and love the design.










The 365 project..a picture a day for 365 days per year. I may not be able to load the pic up, every day, but I shouldn't have a problem snapping the picture. Several of my blogger friends completed the 365 for 2010 and it is amazing. What an accomplishment! I'm challenging myself to see if I can do it! I will be using Flickr as my host.

I was crushed, yesterday, when I went to get my Rebel T1i out of the bag....the glass protection screen was cracked! Until I realized how easy this was to replace, I was devastated. Looks like it might cost $15, and the glass just pops off, only held on with double stick tape. Thank goodness the LCD screen was not damaged.

Mads and I spent Sunday evening baking & cooking. We made a recipe from the Pillsbury website, "Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Casserole." Very good! Definitely a family-style meal that everyone should love. Although it doesn't contain pasta, the biscuit topping make up for the carbs..not the most diet friendly dish, thus far!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Hello 2011!

Plagued with a chest cold for the new year. Hoping that I may be able to advert this hippo off my chest by drinking lots of fluids, consuming tons of oranges & eating some homemade soup. Made my version Olive Garden's Zuppa soup. Damn good. Chicken in the oven, to bake off the bone, for some homemade chicken noodle soup.



Said goodbye to the decorations, yesterday. I hated to take down my favorite little decoration that I purchased at Home Goods. Madison wanted to leave the bowl of Christmas bulbs, but I told her we would fill the bowl with pineconess and lights, for a winter decoration.






Of course, we needed a picture for 1/1/11. So snapped this candid of the kids & the dog. That's about all I have at this time. Lots of ideas for the upcoming months, though. Upcoming ideas & plans: 4 day ski trip to Hope Lake Lodge, a "melting pot" themed winter party, scrapbooking get-togethers, a trip to the wineries, lots of family movie/game nights, lots of baking/cooking with my daughter, a trip to Fingerlake Fibers new location and lots of knitting.