14 Days of Valentines

The 14 Days of Valentines idea came from my friend amber. I LOVE it and am doing it too. It will be one small gift everyday for Steve. I can't wait to get February started.

1. reese's cup.....There are a million 'reese's why I love you.

2. socks.....You knock my 'socks' off.

3. almond joy.....Thank you for 'almond joy' you have given me.

4. can of beans.....'cool beans' you're mine....inside joke

5. hot tamales.....you're 'hot'

6. smoothie ingredients.....you're 'smooth'...Ben's idea

7. velveeta.....you 'melt' my heart...Ben's idea and for Feb. 7th Superbowl Sunday to make rotel dip.

8. pop rocks candy.....you 'rock' my world

9. lucky charms.....I am 'lucky' to have you

10. jr. mints.....we were 'mint' to be together

11. nuts.....I'm 'nuts' about you

12. sweethearts.....you're my sweetheart

13. olive oil.....'olive' love you forever

And for the 14th...still working on that one.

Steve is working late tonight so I was just working on the tags for these. Two of Madi's little girlfriends are over here...their favorite is the lucky charms because there is a kiss on the tag...they said I should do that on all of them.

Pioneer Woman inspiration

It seemed like everyone I knew had the new Pioneer Women cookbook but me. So I had mentioned wanting to get the book to my friend susy and she said to order it from amazon.com...it's only $11.50 there. So I did. It has helped me get out of my cooking slump. For the past week I have been making the best dinners with homemade pies, rolls, yummy salads with homemade dressings. One of Steve's favorites is apple pie. Not that they are hard to make but I stress over trying to get it looking picture perfect so when I saw Pioneer Women's flat apple pie I knew it was for me. I used my grandma kiehl's pie crust recipe and my mom's/Pioneer Women's filling recipe....there were only two differences. All I had to do was roll out the pie crust, lay it on a cookie sheet, pour pie filling on top and fold up the edges...it was perfect tasting. Steve is always very nice...if I don't have dinner plans he always offers to pick up Subway or something on his way home from work. But, if I have a yummy home cooked dinner waiting there is a twinkle in his eye. Tonight's menu is Pioneer Women's Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Pentagon

The kids in Ben's SAGE (gifted) class were given the assignment to pick a world landmark to write a report on and build a sturdy replica of...holy moly is kinda what I thought. Ben chose the Pentagon. Some of his friends picked the Eiffel Tower, Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, Pyramids...makes me a little grateful for the Pentagon. Steve thought and thought how we could do this and then asked for my help...we used all my craft stuff. The foam board I use to make explosion books,the flags I use in tasty treats, my glue gun...that he has never used and my elephant gray paint. Our family learned alot about the Pentagon from this project. The neatest being the interesting fact that the Pentagon was dedicated on September 11, 1943...58 years to the day before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

cozies

I already finished making these cozies that we are going to give the kids teachers for Valentine's Day. Ben picked white for his teacher and Madi insisted Mrs. Kave once said red was her favorite color so red it is for her. I got a kit with the supplies to make these from sweetwater...I enjoy all their products. Their line of fabric authentic is one of my favorites. I think I am going to go to Starbucks and get empty cups to wrap these around and stuff a small gift card inside.

My "under the sink"

It all started when I found this wonderful scented dish soap at William Sonoma...spiced chestnut. I was talking to my friend Susy who is the everyday gourmet...and the queen of William Sonoma all about this new favorite product of mine. So in return she sent me the link and a coupon to get some more yummy scented dish soap. I stocked up and love having a basket full under my sink...and countertop spray too.

My other new fad is pretty dishtowels and washcloths I crocheted myself.

One of my friends moved and so for a little gift for her I sent my new favorites...gourmet dish soap with crocheted washcloths for her new kitchen.

Today I had the BEST day! My legs hurt so bad...I LOVE self-inflicted pain from exercising!!!. One night last week I was at the gym (LA Fitness) and they had a local radio station playing overhead. I take my own music but as soon as I got there they were announcing the number 1 downloaded song in Atlanta...the Avett Brothers...I had never heard of this number 1...they played the song and I had been craving to hear again ever since but couldn't remember the name of it. So today I was outside in our beautiful 65 degrees running over at the Salem lake and in my ears the radio played this song...I am a sucker for songs that have an anthem tune. But when it was over it was a commercial so I switched stations and then the Judds 'Love Can Build A Bridge" came on...I busted into tears in the middle of my run because I was thinking about what is going on in Haiti and the people who are down there trying to help. It's so sad.

yummy flowers from Madi

Madi and I just finished these cute valentines for her class just a few minutes ago. We found the idea on another blog. Madi went through my paper and picked what colors she wanted to use, she put the paper in the printer, cut a few of them and poked the yummy suckers in the flowers. She and I both are excited to give these to her friends next month.

January x 4

This past week has been AMAZING! I spent my week substitute teaching in Special Ed...where some kids can't walk or talk or feed themselves or go to the bathroom by themselves. I have taught in there before, but this is the first chance I have had to be in there this school year. If you have lived with or taught these kinds of kids you know how I am feeling. Since I have to be at school early and stay a little late my own kids come in the classroom with me...they are amazed and are learning to accept and enjoy these kids too. We crack up because one of the kids in my class calls me Ms. BB (Ms. Jeni). Steve doesn't know any of the kids but Ben, Madi and I have been talking non-stop about them all week. After my experiences this week and watching the devastation in Haiti my heart is overwhelmed.



I am thankful for all I have and the things I get to experience...January has been good to me so far. I have 4 different sets of month stitcheries. It is so fun to change them at the beginning of each new month.

This crow one is my newest one and now my favorite. Tonight I am working on the February pattern.

Happy January!!!

iMpOrTant

I made myself a pretty (red and aqua) reminder of my word for 2010...important. This is on my kitchen counter, I am always in there.

What color?!?

We could not believe that this year's (our 3rd year at the same place) uniforms for basketball were blue and orange. Have you seen the movie The Blind Side? Remember when Sandra Bullock says that awful (Tennessee/Florida) orange was not in her color wheel. My kids like Ohio State and Georgia...they don't typically wear orange for a reason. I had to go buy ribbon that had orange in it for her hair...it's not in her color wheel.

They are nice uniforms though.

There is Ben #34. His game was so close and a fun one to watch and he won.

The Lady Mustangs.

Someone messed up. Madi's team played against a group of girls that had 4 players taller than the tallest on her team. Look at Madi guarding someone my height and looks to be 120 lbs...the Lady Mustangs tried so hard but just didn't have a chance to get the ball much. It was still fun and we have been giggling about it all night. There is nothing more fun than watching your kids play.

Merry Winter...No school in the state of Georgia!

I bet if you live in the state of Georgia your kids have no school today. It's not a snow day...we only have a dusting of snow. But it was 16 degrees and has warmed up to 20 now at noon. There is ice. Anywhere else this wouldn't be a problem but here in Atlanta they don't have enough trucks and equipment to salt the roads...this weather is very rare. It's perfect timing though...my family always wonders why in the world there is work/school the day after the National Championship (college football) that doesn't end until midnight. Last night was a good game. I spent my last year and half of high school in Enterprise, Alabama (Ft. Rucker) and graduated from Enterprise High School...so I was rooting for the Tide to win. I did go to Kindergarten in Kileen, Texas (Ft. Hood) and spent three of my Air Force years in San Antonio but still...Alabama.

Here is a picture of the white dresser in my living room...it's one of my favorite pieces of furniture...got it free back in my junking days in Germany.

I printed 'Merry Winter' and framed it. Printed 'snowflakes' and stitched it. I love free and cheap crafts! Merry Winter!

Snowflakes

My friend amber can do anything! She has 3 small kids, her husband is deployed and she still whipped out hundreds...I don't know...150 or more Christmas cards with homemade crocheted snowflakes on them. My card was just beautiful. Amber also made some extras for me to use as ornaments...I {heart} them very much and will every winter. I have this tree and snowkids displayed by my front door for our very wintry January.

Atlanta is FROZEN right now. We are expecting the temps in the teens for another week and snow is on the way. N. Atlanta schools are already letting out at noon tomorrow. I don't like it...I have lived in cold weather places...Washington State to name one, that is where I met Amber, so it's fitting she gave me snowflakes.

Getting back to normal after Christmas

All the Christmas decorations have been put up. You know that song "I cried the day I took the tree down" from the Forgotten Carols...that is me.

But I am THRILLED I got a big or at least a bigger clock for my living room. My kitchen has a big arched window and this is my view from in there...I can see the clock and the tv.

Snowmen and homemade stitched snow heads help me get through January.

On my table I have been burning the yummiest gingerbread tea lights Ben got me for Christmas in the sweetest tea light holder Madi made for me out of glue and kidney beans...I will love that little thing forever!

Happy New Year

My friend amber was my inspiration for this new pillow.

New Year's...Atlanta style

Back in June while Steve was in Iraq he emailed me and said he got a really nice place for us to spend 3 days over the New Years holiday... WHOTEL-Buckhead. I thought I had been to some nice places but this place ROCKED!!! It's ranked Atlanta's 7th nicest hotel. I had just painted my living room and dinning room gray and am in love with red and aqua...and would you look at the color scheme of this classy hotel.

There are Steve, Ben and Madi relaxing on those signature wish beds. I LOVED the BLISS products they had to use. After getting the hotel reservation on priceline.com and getting $50 of bliss products it was a cheap romantic family New Years getaway.

Out of one of our windows we saw Lenox Square Mall. Out of another this beautiful sight.

Downstairs in the living room/lobby the kids got to play with the games. We were getting ready to leave the hotel to go eat and this man wanted to play a quick game with Ben. When Ben was done we left but Ben had accidentally left his brand new DSi there. A few hours later when we realized it was missing we drove back to the hotel to see if anyone had found it. They did....we are still cracking up...security(looked like FBI or Secret Service), two guys with long black coats and earpieces on brought it to us. We had never been to a hotel with valet only parking, living room dress codes and FBI looking security. We liked the 5 star hotel but not the 5 star service...it's too much.

It was a wonderful New Year's to remember!

It's January 1st and I have picked my word for 2010 - IMPORTANT. Steve is always on me to think about and do what's IMPORTANT. When I have been busy and not gotten house work done or gone to the gym that day when he gets home at night he always says housework is not important...he can tuck the kids in bed it's IMPORTANT for me to go to the gym. I am grateful to have Steve and that he knows what's IMPORTANT and gets on me to get me thinking. So in 2010 I want to learn, know and do what's IMPORTANT for me.