Time to Accomplish Something

Tick tock. So the New Year is coming and it has me thinking, like every person on the planet, about what I hope to achieve in 2011. I'm hoping that making my list public will push me to do them all, so here it goes!

• Read all of the physical books that I own and get rid of the least important ones cluttering my house. (I got a Nook for Christmas!!)
• Be the best mother I can for Lynaea
• Get rid of any stretchmarks that I got while pregnant
• Get rid of the baby weight
• Get back to Freshman year of college weight
• Finish the first draft of my novel
• Join a group of some kind that meets at least once a month to keep me social
• Get the courage to talk to people who knew my mother so that I may know her better as well.

Wish me luck! Happy New Year everyone!!

The Best Chocoate Chip Cookies For the Best Time of Year!

I'm a big fan of cookies on Christmas (and Christmas Eve) and this is by far the best chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe I have found. 

Happy Holidays!!!!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Stir together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
3. Refrigerate the dough until firm (about an hour or two)
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
5. Drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
6. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. (Sometimes they need 20 minutes... just watch them until the edges are starting to turn golden brown) Cool on baking sheets until completely cool. Transfer to sealed container.

                                 

My Many Thanks For

1. Warm salt water to gargle, Ricola cough drops, and humidifiers.

2.  The tiny baby trying to burrow her way out of my stomach through my (super stretched) abdominal muscles.

3. The best husband in the world who always knows the right thing to do or say.

4. In-laws who treat me as their own.

5. My fabulously crazy family.

Happy Halloween!

Turns out, being a troll doll for Halloween was super easy. Sure, I first pictured being one with an outfit on... but that didn't work so:

Step 1: Buy a cheap pair of khakis and nude turtleneck.

Step 2: Paint a jewel in the center of your turtleneck's belly (it helps to put on the turtleneck and use a pen to mark where the center of your jewel should go)

Step 3: Take a sheet of pillow stuffing and dab acrylic paint the color of your choice all over to create a uniform color.

Step 4: Put up your hair and mold the stuffing around your head (it sticks to itself!)

Step 5: Go out and celebrate!

And the Winner Is

  

I am going to be a treasure troll doll for Halloween! However, I think I will be one of the treasure troll dolls that wears some sort of clothing. Maybe a bikini (don't worry.. I won't ONLY have a bikini on. I'm gonna need a bodysuit) or a ballerina outfit. We will see.

I plan on making it myself, so I will have to get my supplies soon to start all the work!

I will make sure to post my step by step process and the finished costume once I'm done. Wish me luck!

I've Narrowed it Down to Three...

Halloween costumes that is.

I really don't want to paint my belly anything, so that kind of excludes a lot of Google search results... but I found a couple of ideas that I think are cute.

I was thinking:

a) a ladybug. Though, maybe too cute? or

b) treasure troll (the ones with the crazy neon hair and jewel on their belly). But, would anyone get it? or

c) Skeleton with baby skeleton in belly

What are your thoughts? I put up a poll on the right, so VOTE!

I need to know what your opinions are.

Costume for a Pregnant Lady - Help!



Last year's torture
MWAHAHA

It's that time of year when hot apple cider, jack-o-lanterns and dried cornstalks are all I can think about! I can't wait until my baby will be here for his or her first Halloween and we get to dress them up in a cute costume. I used to actually get anxiety attacks in late August and early September (probably because school started... and I apparently can't handle stress very well), but Halloween always lifted my mood and this year is no exception. I can't wait to wear a cute outfit that shows off my baby bump. I have no plans yet, but that will not stop me!

But...

What should I be? I want to be something cute, but unique. No pumpkins...



So I'm asking you: what should I be? Leave me feedback and let me know. I plan on making it myself so bring it on! When I have decided what I want to be, I will blog about the costume-making process and show you every step of the way!

So let me know!!