Happiness is

a box from my friend Terri !
as always, she never disapoints!

a fabulous decorated box full of handmade cards, made by her sister-in-law;

of which I have admired for sometime!  Made in Maine handmade soap,

shea butter, soft warm socks,

a novel, & GODIVAS! Along with a fantastic friend card.....

everything a girl needs for an afternoon in bed!
Thanks Fabulous TERRI!

Loads of snow

My son loves the snow!

He will play for hours outside, never getting bored or cold!

I like the snow, its pretty on the trees, and I admire it often from the warmth of my home!

doodling

crochet

I taken up crocheting....stop laughing!!!! I am kind of good at it.
I make a kick ass flower.
I made this fabulous necklace out of a lovely cream colored wool yarn,
adorned with a vintage button. I need better photos!

I recently turned my large clothing closet into my art/craft closet.
I will post some pictures soon...it is actually coming out quite well.
Currently on my desk....some card making.
I love this Fiskars stamp press.....I highly recommend it!

home made valentine cards made from paper and fabric, sewn on a machine.

Now, off I go to the closet to make more stuff!
P.S - the healthy eating plan is still on track!!

I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in LOVE!!!!

with this!

you can buy it here
or Macys
it is worth all 525 pennies!
I CAN'T STAND WHEN MY BRA STRAP FALLS!!!!!
I HATE IT!!!!
I have tried other contraptions...this is the best!
This is going to make my entire month!!!!!

I also bought these

also very good.....
my saggy boobs have never looked so perky!
I'm like a new woman!
Now to find a large butt sucker-inner.

Vegetarian Recipes

I am not a big fan of vegetables unless they are very fresh.
I am not a fan of vegetables the way my mom cooked them....
boil the vitamins and minerals out of them, add a stick of Blue Bonnet Margarine, and 1/2 cup of salt.
My friend Lisa makes good veggies, I have never like sweet potatoes til I had hers, same with Lentil soup, until she served some at dinner.
Now I am on this vegetable kick.....if they are cooked and seasoned well, they are delicious.
I love Vegetarian Magazine....not because I am a vegetarian, but because they have fantastic easy recipes that make vegetable eating a pleasure.
I made this minus the walnuts. 
Whole-wheat Spaghetti with Sautéed Leeks, 
White Beans, and Walnuts.

The recipe is here 

 I made this tonight, it was fantastic!
Roasted Leeks with Poached Eggs 
and Warm Spinach Salad

 the recipe is here

you can subscribe to the magazine here

$12.00 for a year is a great deal!

spoiled or not

I am a sucker for all things from my childhood. I am unsure why, its not like my childhood was picture perfect. There are thing that I fondly remember and one of those things was movie time in elementary school. We would all have to carry our 20 lb solid wood kid size chairs (they don't make things like they use too!) down to the gym.  These chairs now fetch big bucks in the antique store and flea markets, I always hated them because they were so heavy and always bruised my shins! One of the favorite movies I remember seeing was "paddle to the sea".  I loved it, and I am now currently reading the book to my son.

It is really difficult to read out loud, it doesn't have that "flow off the tongue" like most children's book that are written today.  The illustrations are beautiful, and Ivan is really enjoying it.

Since Valentines Day is approaching I thought I would  order this DVD, as a Valentines gift.

I also order this DVD....nothing like engrossing 50's films to fill up an afternoon.

The 1950'S Red Balloon has one so may awards its like an epic film,
you can check it out here RED BALLOON_YOU TUBE

I also ordered a box(48) of these. Ivan and I were watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and he went crazy over the whistle pops. Did you know whistle pops have been discontinued, and I have ordered the last box!!!! I will be selling them individually in my etsy shop for $5.00 each(jk).
ahh....memeories, they sure do a number on you wallet, but good times will be had!

Jumping Jack Flash is a gas gas gas.

So far I have done my 10 jumping jacks per day, but I am thinking of cutting back...hee...hee. Who would have thunk that 10 jumping jacks would cause so much pain....I feel like I have run miles. Some days they are quite easy...other days I feel like I may break my ankles, but I do them each time with as much enthusiasm and little boob flopping as possible.

As far as the healthy eating plan, well that is going well.  I am actually having a bit of fun with it.  Who knew torturing family could bring such joy.
Day 1 - Lentil Soup, and Organic Winter Salad.
Day 2 - Breakfast -Fiber Cereal,  Lunch -Yogurt and Granola,
Dinner - Sockeye Salmon, rice, and bean salad.
corn and bean salad is a great staple to have around...
1 bag of white shoe-peg corn
I can black beans (rinsed)
I can garbanzo beans (rinsed)
chopped fresh tomatoe
chopped fresh red onion
dressing to taste
(you can add feta, other beans, left over rice, and what not and so forth)
Day 3 - Breakfast -yogurt and granola, Lunch -turkey and cheese, soy bean crisps,
Dinner - shrimp in whole wheat tortilla with rice and bean salad.

Tonight I am planning on serving Miso Soup and Spinach Salad, and tomorrow a White Bean and Braised Leek Whole Wheat Pasta Dish.
Half the fun of trying something new is the thrill of the hunt.....The Miso Soup recipe calls for  Red Miso Paste, Silken Tofu (shh don't tell my husband!),  Hon Dashi (huh?). So, off I went to Shaws only to not be surprised that they did not have the ingredients needed. I went to the local Asian Market on St. John Street.....um, eeewwwww. stinking, dirty, icky, and that is being nice! I was pleasantly surprised to not find what I was looking for,  hurried out,  tripping over a pail of rotting food??? their compost???, and passing by unidentifiable bins of what I think were vegetables, and maybe fish parts...dunno?

I was determined to shop locally, knowing perfectly well Whole Foods had everything...but I needed to spend more money locally this week to meet my quota. Thankfully,  Sun OrientalMarket on Congress Street was  open, and I was able to get my ingredients. The lady there is quite lovely and very helpful, and referred  me to the correct seaweed that I needed....I thought I had the right one...but as she began to ring it up she told me...."you don't want that....does not look like picture....just seaweed stems",  she sent me in the right direction of seaweed leaves...all with a nod, and a "my pleasure".

So I am armed with some very curious groceries, and a few good recipes. My husband will be pleased that there are no beans in tonight's dinner, because the whole house... it's a gas, gas, gas. (I kill myself!)

update...Katie just came out of her room and asked what was for dinner...I told her Miso Soup...she asked what was in it, I told her....and her reply was "are you making that up? your just kidding right?"
ahhh, it all makes it so worth it! 
update 2 ...Katie called our mother and told her that I was feeding her been turd and seaweed.

just 10 jumping jacks a day.

Whole Foods Market has a wonderful article on their blog called "resolve to eat right". Like the author of the article I am not big on New Years Resolutions, until I read another bloggers idea of a resolution. Her big resolution was to do 10 jumping jacks a day, I thought, "hey, I can do that!", and I have! Woo Hoo, off to a roaring start! I also added in 10 toe touches.....phew, I do work up a sweat.  Lets face it, if I  resolve to run 2 miles a day, I will not become a runner, but a master of excuses on why running is bad (it is bad for your joints...you know)! I have also resolved to continue with my "green" living practices, as I have written in past posts. However, the most important resloution I really need to keep is my resolution to eat healthier. It is not just for me, but for my entire family. My husband and I could both stand to loose a bunch of weight. Ivan needs to quit eating junk, and then there is Katie(my sister, who is currently living with us) who is very obese. So here goes our new healthy eating plan.....it makes me giggle, in a bad way.
Giggle you say. Yes, giggle, which is what I did the entire time I prepared tonights meal. No, I wasn't giggling because I was having fun cooking, it was because I kept imagining my familys face as I served the food....

We had organic lentil soup, with organic greens winter salad.
I served everything on small plates/bowls, with a piece of toasted homemade bread.
Now all of you out there that are ick-ing the soup, I will tell you a secret, add a dab of sour cream..."a little dab will do ya". it makes the soups consistency seen not so "sludge" like.

Generally eating fresh vegetables in the winter takes all of my inner strength to keep my gag reflexes in check, especially lettuce. However, Olivia's Garden lettuce is very good, it is a local product(bonus) made in New Glouster. I added raw almonds, blue cheese, and dried organic cherries, all topped of with a bit of Newman's (bonus-100% of profits go to charity) dressing.

It was good...I feel light.....so light..like I could float away to the Wicked Woopie Pie store in Freeport.

My  brother-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Whole Foods (which brings us to the first sentance of this tale) for Christmas....at first I thought to myself...hmm... interesting, but had a ball spending it on stuff for myself (non-food).

Aura Cacia - Soothing Heat - Evergreen and Eucalyptus Bubble Bath. I let you know how fabulous this is!

Dr Bronner Peppermint Soap...My husband loves all Dr.Bronner's  products...its a hippie thing!

Kiss My Face Antioxidant Toner, ahh...spray on goodness!

Earth Theraputics Sinus  Pillow, lets hope it helps, and I can stay off of the brain sucker Afrin.

Earth Therapeutics Boars Hair Brush - make my hair so soft and shiny.

Now that I am all natural (my legs are getting pretty hairy-which actually happens every winter), and organicy,

wish me luck, as I too wish all of you luck with your resolutions, and if all your resolutions fail, you can have one of mine....10 jumping jacks a day..you can do that!!!!!

Envirosax Animal Planet Pouch

My friend Carrie gave me one of these for Christmas, I love it!

I love it because it folds up into the size of a small apple,

and fits right into your purse....so you never have to run back to the car for your bag!

Envirosax Animal Planet Pouch

I am also loving this magazine..... BOHO MAGAZINE
I bought it at Borders.

New Years Pledge.

Bring your own bag

I often forget them in the car....now I will go back to get them!  You can make your own, use old pillow cases, cut the top double fold for the handle, sew and go!

as seen here

My sister Katie uses plastic baggies for her lunches, on the average day she uses 3-4 bags. 
I am going to make a bunch of reusable ones, like these. They are completely washable.

Repair items instead of buying new
I am so guilty of this. Both of my trash cans are kind of gross. I was going to go buy new, instead I will bleach them to clean them.

Rent or borrow something that will be used once, 
or just a few times.

My friend Shelley  buys her large family used VHS, and DVDs at the local Goodwill. 
At 99 cents a piece, it sure beats the $20.00 price tags of buying new!

Sell, trade or donate items in good condition.  
The Salvation Army, and Goodwill is always looking for donations
 

Eat at locally owned and run restaurants. 
say good bye to crapplebees, no one likes the food there anywhere.  Check your yellow pages for  small local dining experiences!

One Small Change

One small change is a great idea started by a fellow blogger Hip Mountain Mama.
She is asking everyone to make one small change a month until Earth Day, and blog about it.
What I like about this is that it is completely obtainable. The changes are small, but if may do them, the affect will be great.
This is a basic list she has started.....
Many I already do, some I wouldn't consider, like eliminating toilet paper, and having a family cloth. I must admit I don't know all of the specifics of this, but I am pretty sure I would pass.

Recycle, use cloth napkins, try cloth diapering, replace your bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs, turn off your lights, use natural cleaning products or make your own, drive your car less, buy a hybrid, turn your thermostat down, use the sun to warm your home through passive solar heat, bring your own bags to the store, install a low flow shower head, stop buying bottled water, unplug it, bring more plants into your home, always print double sided, when getting rid of things consider freecycle, craigslist or ebay (do not throw out as someone else is surely able to get some use out of it), support local farms and try to eat local, purchase wind power if it is available in your area, purchase products made with natural materials and that can be reused, purchase recycled paper products, use rags instead of paper towels to clean up messes, use reusable lunch sacks, buy organic, landscape responsibly by reducing the use of water needed, donate time and/or money to green efforts, elimate the use of toilet paper by using family cloths, don’t flush every time, put a brick or something heavy it he back of your toilet so it uses less water when flushed.

 The first change I am going to make is to eliminate the over use of plastic baggies in our house. We go through way to many, using them only once. 

Here is a link to make some...
craft stylish
we wilsons 

or you can purchase some here on ETSY .
I will post my handmade creations soon.