"Mary Beth is thankful for Mommy"

Mary Beth's class makes books all the time and they get to bring them home for a night at some point throughout the year. Each child has a page they contribute to the books. This is Mary Beth's page from their kindergarten "Thankful Book". It made me cry. We may never see this book again so I took a picture of her page so I will always have it.

And Mommy is thankful for you my sweet baby girl!

"the piggy commercial"

i love this skating party

photo by Geneve Hoffman

party from Beautiful Days

well, i love the idea of this party(you must check out all the pictures). if I enjoyed being miserably cold or trying to balance with thin pieces of metal on a sheet of ice then i would truely love this and do this, but alas i don't. so i can't. {that and the fact that my backyard is the size of my kitchen}
and yes, i do realize that lots of people(for instance all my friends and family members) enjoy outdoor winter activities- but i am not one of them. don't judge me. it's COLD outside, it's difficult for me to walk in snow without falling down, and i have a trick knee. you would think that even one of those excuses should be enough for everyone....

Giada's Antipasto Salad- BEST EVER

{ image from food network}

I made this salad a few times now and it's always a huge hit. People always want the recipe so I decided to put it up here so everyone can print it or write it down. It's from Giada's Everyday Pasta cookbook but I also found it online at food network. Just click on the link above to view it. I promise you will love it- so give it a try!

the big gift

I almost forgot to blog about the special present the kids got this Christmas:

the long awaited wii!

we used the money my grandparents sent us and John's parents gave them
they were so ecstatic!

I had wrapped it up and labeled the box: do not open until 2:30pm(I didn't want their other presents overshadowed by the wii.)

I had been telling them all along(for years actually) that I wouldn't allow them to have one...

and then to really throw them off the trail I told them a clue to what was in the box was "pet store"- then they started guessing animals...

It was fun watching how surprised they were.

They couldn't wait to start playing...

1/2 hour a day- that's the rules! -except on Christmas ;)

one little word

{image from Ali Edwards}

Is anyone doing this for 2011? I love the idea: instead of {or along with} resolutions you pick 1 word for your theme word for the year. Examples could be: play, joy, create, love...

Ali takes it a step further by turning it into a year long project for scrapbooking. You can read more about it and even join in by going to the link above.

You can frame your word on cute paper and set it out where you can see it. Great reminder.

My word this year: INTENTION(as in living my life with intention)
What's your word going to be?

i made a "Nonna Wreath"

I absolutely LOVE this. Once again, I got the idea and tutorial from Jones Design. Two reasons I had to make this: 1. we have a Nonna of our own in the family- my mom! {Nonna means grandma in Italian} and 2. i needed a winter type wreath for my front door and this looked super easy and fun to make- and it was!
I used my Joann's coupon and got a wreath form for $4. Then the felt by the yard was 1/2 off so I got that for $2. $6 for a new wreath- pretty good, huh?
You just cut strips of the felt into 2-3" pieces. Wrap the wreath form(I think Emily used a 10" rounded hard foam but I used a 14" green squared off foam- I wanted it bigger- I don't think it matters what kind you use) first and glue in place with got glue. Then start bunching/twisting/turning the felt pieces all the while adhering it with hot glue as you go. (this will use a bunch of glue!)
I went around the outside and then 2 more rows working in. Then I realized I needed to do one on the outside also. I had a yard of felt and it covered the whole wreath with some left over to make some flower pins for my friends for a New Years treat! :)
Here it is on my yellow door- isn't it cute and cozy looking?