I-O-U

Hi. So I feel like I owe you an explanation. Between October 31-January 10, I wrote four posts. FOUR!? Don't you wonder where I've been???

In short, this is what took place November-January in my world.

• Cheered on the Gophers FB team, x4
• Celebrated 7 loved one's birthdays
• Hosted 4 parties
• Baked 7 cakes, 14 batches of cookies, 40 pita pockets + 5 batches of caramel
• Attended 2 baby showers
• Canned 2 batches of cranberry jam
• Stamped holly leaves + berries on 8 tea towels
• Went to a bridal shower & bachelorette party, on the same night
• Assembled homemade Christmas gifts {towel+cookies+caramels+jam}
• Traveled to WI + cherished time spent with family
• Bought a snow blower, the day before getting 16+ inches of snow!
• Celebrated Christmas in MN, was introduced to Polish traditions {Wigilia} and baked my first ham, Eve + Day, respectively
• Went Sledding
• Was witness to a wedding ceremony + gained a new sister {siostra}
• Rang in 2010 with friends
• Toasted to both a new marriage and one 30 years strong with family + friends
• Seized a new opportunity at work
• Savored these moments

{BTW - Pay it Forward winners: I have not forgotten about you!!}

2010 Resolutions

I've been thinking about my 2010 goals since 2009, but here it is 01.20.2010 and I haven't posted a thing. Probably because I originally had just one, a spin on last year's "Year of the Craft." However, after some serious thought, I tacked on additional objectives.

:: Create 12 tangible things throughout the course of the year. {read: no food}
:: Love more, judge less.
:: Log 1,000 miles.
:: Explore more.
:: De-clutter.
:: Repurpose.

As I did last year, I'll update this post to detail my progress.
♥

2009 Resolutions, revisited

I finished updating the status of my 2009 Resolutions:
- Couple Resolutions - 2.58 of 6 accomplished
Clearly we didn't do very well on our Couple Resolutions.

- 2009: Year of the Craft - 12 for 12!!
I wrote up posts for 10 of the 12 crafts. So, if you are interested in knowing what I did for my last two crafts, check out the updated post.

On to 2010!!

Freezin' for a Reason

I signed up to jump into a frozen lake on February 6, 2010 to raise money for the Special Olympics. If you are able to make a pledge, that'd be awesome!! If interested, you can donate here. I promise to post photo(s) of the jump!!

Skol

{image from Reuters}

Giada is at Target!

I am a Food Network fan. If I have control of the remote, we are most likely watching Food Network.

My all-time favorite Food Network star is Giada De Laurentiis. She is adorable, makes simple, yet tasty recipes and is adorable! Oh yeah. I mentioned that already. A few years ago Rich bought me one of her cookbooks for Christmas. I read the cookbook like a novel. Loved it. (By the way, her crab and ricotta stuffed cannelloni is wonderful!!)

Anyhow, I guess she has a new line of products available at Target. One of which is a similar to something she uses frequently on her show. A tool I've been coveting for some time now.
It's a stainless steel, "Scoop and Strain" Colander. It's $14.99. And I think I need it. Though I really want the one exactly like she uses on her show... so this might not cut it. Nonetheless, it's worth a stop at Target.

{images from target.com}

30.

in 18 months.

image from Crystal Zaragoza