My Shabby Shack

Project 365

 

With a new year, comes new goals.  Yes, I've started my list just like everyone else:

1. Lose Weight
2. Be better organized
3. Spend more time with the family
4. Make more time for my creative arts!
5, Update my blog every day!  Well, at least try to ;)

Not necessarily in that order, and there are definitely subcategories to all of the above. 

One of my the projects that I am undertaking this year is called Project 365.  I first learned about this project from one of my favorite blog sites http://www.cathyzielske.typepad.com/.  I thought it would be a fun thing to do and what a great way to chronical a year! I'll be posting some of the work right here.  I'll also try to post the progress of my goals - I'll try to keep it interesting!

The Best Cookies EVER!

So - I'm very fortunate that every Wednesday I get to work from home. That means I get to sleep in an extra hour, stay in my jammies for most the day, and work from the comfort of my cushy sofa!  I get to put my hair in a ponytail and forego the make up.  It also allows me time to be very domestic and cook a nice meal for my little family.  Today I decided to cook a macaroni casserole (it's a favorite of my boys)  Then, as the afternoon progressed, I was feeingl a bit June Cleaver-ish, and thought I'd make cookies for my little boy before he got home from school (well, he's 13, but he's my youngest so he'll always be my little boy).  Needless to say he was more than pleased to come home right as I was pulling them out of the oven.  He screamed "thanks mommy!"  Then begged me to let him lick the spoon ;) - what kind of mom would deny their child the joy of licking the spoon?  Anyway, I've been trying to figure out what I did differently this time when making my cookies.  It's the standard Tollhouse(R) Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe found on the back of the package.  I always use real butter - shortbread and margarine are not allowed in my cookies!  But they came out so perfect.  They were crispy around the edges, and soft and chewy in the middle...yummmm - had to limit myself, and finally stopped after 3 ;)  (avoiding the scale tomorrow!!)

My Little Town

 

Oh how I love the little town I grew up in.  We moved there in 1975 - the population then was only 7,000.  Today it's well over 35,000.  Back in my day, everyone's phone number started with 779 - which was cool because we only had to dial 9 + the last 4 numbers.  You really couldn't go anywhere in town and not run into someone you knew.  The movie theater always showed a double feature - for .50 cents!  The town was so small that you couldn't even buy a set of sheets, mainly because there was no department store.  We did have a Sprouse Reitz, which was one of those general store type stores.  But they didn't carry sheets. 

Well, today, my big sis and I decided to go shopping in my little town.  It's still a small town, but it has some great little boutiques.  What I especially love is that I know many of the shop owners - all wonderful gals.  I'll have to remember to snap some shots of these stores!

This is about me!

 

Today I spent about 4 hours at my little Shabby Shack.  What did I accomplish?  Not much!!  I really wanted to scrapbook - but I realized that it's a little hard to be motivated if you have no pictures to scrapbook.  So I decided to take a quick pic of myself right then and there on the spot - no make up, no fancy clothes...but did brush my hair!  I then printed it out and then sat their for a good 25 minutes trying to figure out what I was going to do.  I flipped through some magazines, and surfed the net a little bit until I finally got inspired.  Here's what's on my desk at the moment.  It's just about done.  I'll be posting a gallery of my completed projects - this will be the first one :)

Lazy Daze - Meanwhile, back on the Ranch

   

Ah the Ranch.  How I love coming here - home.  This is where I grew up - well, partly where I grew up. I lived her from the age of 10 until I was 17.  This was a great place for a kid to grow up.  We had a creek that ran through the front of our house.  We would play for hours in that creek - catching crawdads and pollywogs.  We'd jump in an intertube and sail all the way down the creek.  What would a ranch be without horses?  Every little girls' dream - including me.  My dad got me my first pony when I was 10 - her name was Ginger.  She was so cute.  Anyway, I got to visit with my daddy today.  He was out working in the barn when I got there - so I took the opportunity to snap some shots around the old homestead.

 

Ah yes, I love coming home.  Thank goodness it's only 20 minutes from where I live now!

Twilight, Dull Night

 

Well, I'm a few days later than every other fan that saw the movie on the 21st.  I avoided all reviews just so I could see it with an open mind.  Well, about 5 minutes into the movie, I began to feel that I was watching a Movie of the Week from the early '80s, complete with the cheesy music and bad special effects.  The gal that played Bella, had the same expression on her face the whole time - and I noticed that she never closed her mouth - that was quite annoying...  I guess it wasn't that bad all together, but I was expecting something a little more fantastical - like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter beautiful.  Anyway...I'm hopeful that the next one (assuming there is one) will be better.

Proud to be an American!

 

I woke up at 6:30 this morning.  I don't think I've ever been so excited about an election.  I woke my husband like it was Christmas morning! "Honey, come on! Get up - it's time to go vote!!"  He reluctantly woke up, got dress, and trotted down to the polls with me - coffee in hand.  It was a beautiful California morning and I could just feel the change coming on.  Regardless of how you vote, it's a pretty powerful thing to watch your fellow Americans lining up to make their choice.  To know that we HAVE a choice.  We live in such an awesome country.  I then started thinking about all those that fought for our rights - from my children's ancestors who fought in the American Revolution and the Civil War, to my father who served in the US Army during WWII, my brother who served during the Gulf War, and my son, who proudly served in the USMC during the war in Iraq.  It's a great honor and privilege to be an American and I try my best not to take if for granted.  America the Beautiful indeed!

Busy Busy Busy!!!

 
Our Bunco Ghost

Whew - it's been a busy week!   Wed. started with our company Halloween party.  Our department put on a skit, I was a 101 Dalmation Dog.  Then Wednesday evening, I hosted a game night, with friends.  We played an entertaining round of Cranium.  I'm such a ham, it's really my favorite game.  Then Thursday night was Bunco with the girls.  I had two no-shows so we were forced to use our Perfect Boyfriend/Girlfriend dolls as our ghosts. Friday was a Halloween party at the Morgan Hill Cellars Winery.  Dave and I went dress as Vampires - we actually came in 2nd in the couples category - only to be beat out by the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red.  They were really cute.  Today, I hosted a Turkey Time Tapas foodie event with my Domestic Diva's group.   YUMMY is all I have to say.  I made a two-potato au gratin - my favorite.  Someone brought the best pumpkin cheesecake.  I didn't take pics this time - only because I've been a walking zombi all day.  Only got 6 hours of sleep.  Good thing is that we get turn the clocks back tonight!  Woo Hoo!

Wednesday - Game Nite:  Steve's attempt at being a "Taxi Driver" (Cranium)

 

   
Thursday - Bunco!:  Mary, Tina and Jenna - Table #2

 

  
Friday - Halloween Party: Angel, Bethany, Lorie, Mary, Karen, Me, Jenn

 

Finally!!

 

Well it only took 2 years for me to finally decide on which TV to get.  There were just too many choices...plasma or LCD, 42", 46" or 50".  Then there was the cost.  How do you justify spending that kind of money on something so trivial!  But alas - here it is.  50" of pure viewing pleasure.  I was like a kid on Christmas eve as I waited for it's arrival!  What will I be watching? Oh where do I start...Heroes, Lost, Desperate Housewives, True Blood (my new obsession).   But in my own defense, I never can just watch TV.  I'm always multitasking - usually I have my laptop on my lap and I get caught up on my email, blogs and my constant updates to my Facebook page :)

Cooking 101

 

 

Last night, I taught my very first cooking class to a group of gals in my Domestic Diva's group.  On the menu for the evening was:

Chicken Cacciatore
Parmesan Polenta
Sauteed Zuccini and onions
Chiabatta bread
Coffee
Dessert

This was the first in a series of 30-Minute Meals that I'm going to be hosting each month. The idea of this series is not so much to prepare a gourmet meal, but rather a way to get out of that weekly rut we usually get in when we prepare the same weekly meals for our families - you know Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tues, Spaghetti Saturday...