Okay, so I didn't really follow through on my goal of keeping a blog last year.  Here is to fresh starts.  But before I think about what I want to accomplish this year, I want to jot down a few things to remember to help me out next holiday season.

• Christmas is one day.  I don't need to eat like it is an entire month and gain 7 pounds in the process.
• Do not decorate the arbor outside.  It is just more stuff that you have to take down in January when it is freezing outside.  Simplify.  If you must, use the garland around the inside banister instead. 
• Think about getting a real tree again.  It's not as messy as you think.
• Bake cookies with your sister.  It is more festive with family.
• Don't worry about the kids liking their presents.  They will be happy with whatever they get.  Here it is best to also remember less is more.  Less and smaller.

Now, here is my mantra for the new year - SIMPLIFY and make routines your friend.  I tend to complicate my life with stuff.  I also let my thoughts complicate my life.  I need to automate and think less.  If I set up routines for cleaning, exercising, eating, shopping, etc.  life will run smoother.  I need to try to break the shopping habit.  I shop for all kinds of reasons, but rarely because I truly NEED something.  Then I need to find a place for all that new stuff.  So, I am going to try to be more mindful of what I buy, and try to shop only for what I need, and get rid of things at home I don't need or use.  I will work out 4x a week - 2x with my trainer and 2x on my own.  I will plan my menus for the week and shop once for groceries.  My cleaning is pretty routine - bathrooms on Monday, one load of laundry a day, dust and vacuum on Sundays.  I should switch dust and vacuum to Fridays on the weeks I don't work and Thursdays on the weeks I do to free up the weekend for my family.  Or at least the downstairs those days and leave only the upstairs for Sundays.  I also need to eat three meals plus one afternoon snack and no snacking in the evening.  I need to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our meals and cut out sweets and fast food for the most part  (80/20 rule).  I will grocery shop on Tuesdays.  Alright, if I can follow all of this, I will be off to a good year.

A New Friend

I checked out a bunch of books from the library last week on making toys from socks and mittens. I have also been looking at some places online where some very crafty people have made some really cool toys from old or recycled socks, mittens, and sweaters. Feeling inspired, I whipped this kitty up this morning using some inexpensive socks I picked up from Walmart. Pixie proceeded to dress kitty up in doll clothes, which actually fit surprisingly well. I am mostly pleased with how this turned out for a first effort. The ones I was admiring online had a little more funkiness factor I think mine is lacking, and the socks or recycled wool/cashmere they used is a much nicer quality than the socks I found. Pixie, however, was quite pleased with it and so was her best friend who was over to play for the afternoon. The friend begged me to make one for her or for her mom to make one for her, and at the end of the playdate was ready to take kitty home insisting that I could make another one for my Pixie. Kids are so easy to please and so much less critical than adults. I love that.

Hello!

Welcome to my new blog!  Blogging is something I have been wanting to commit to for a long time now.  I have tested the waters, but never took the plunge so to speak.  I am really hoping this blog will serve to document our family's day to day life, books I've read, projects I've made, music I like, and all the things that inspire me.  All the things I think I will remember from year to year, but tend to forget, I plan to record here as my external memory.  I had a heck of a time setting up this blog.  Hoepfully, as I become a more proficient blogger, I will be able to tweak the space with my personal touches so it looks more custom and less "off the shelf".  My blog title comes from the fact that I view myself, my life as a "work in progress".  The URL is inspired by my two children endearingly referred to as Pixie and Peanut.  The blog title and URL are different because of the fact that Blogger would not let me use my blog title for my URL because it was already claimed. The quote in the header I remember from a ways back (I used to have it printed out and taped to my computer at work) fits perfectly with my new blog.