January

I've heard so many complaints about winter lately.  Enough already!  I don't know exactly what it is about this season, but I'm not anxious for spring to arrive too soon.  By April, okay, but really people enjoy it while it's here.  Funny because I'm usually cold no matter the season, so winter shouldn't be my favorite.....but it is.  I love being out on the snow machine even on a cold day (last week it was a bitter -28 before the wind chill and I was the one convincing hubby to take a ride.). Then again I love the coziness of sitting in front of the fire or napping in front of it on Sundays (another reason I love our house!  Thought I would hate a stove in the living room but it's actually pretty awesome.). This season is also such a good excuse to cook up special hot treats or work on those DIY projects from Pinterest.  Actually I'd say we nailed all my favorite aspects of winter in January!! So here they are.

   Having gotten the bathroom mostly finished, and new office furniture I was inspired to reorganize and spruce up both rooms.  We attempted some modge podge signs.  It took a few tries before we got it right.

  Attempt #1 was a fail.  First step was to have the kids paint canvases.  Next, I mirror printed on matte photo paper.  I'm not sure if it was the paper's finish or the fact that I bought regular modge podge, not photo (there must have been 15 kinds in Michaels).  Paper went onto the canvas, ink side down and modge podge between the two layers.  Once the modge podge was dry the instruction was to use a damp sponge and rub the paper off.  Needless to say paper, ink, all of it was coming off.  So we quit trying, reprinted it in the usual method (not reverse) and put the modge podge back on as a finish.  

  We ended up with this one for the laundry:

And this one for the kids room:

On to our treats!  I made these yummy Oreo cheesecake treats.  They had a whole Oreo as the base and I loved how it stayed crunchy despite the cooking so that the top cheesecake layer would set.

Having said winter is my favorite season, we still attempted our own little project to welcome spring.   Clear glass vases with rocks, water (just up to the top of the rocks), and tulip bulbs.

Tulip bulbs via Rebekah's Pinterest via Off the Wall (Not sure about that link.  It looked like a dead end when I checked it just now?!  I literally used the instructions that were already in the pin when I pinned it.)

  
Another recipe I used for dessert came recommended by a friend.  Chocolate Chip Stuffed Cheesecake Bars were a quick one to throw together, because they use premade cookie dough (Pillsbury, etc.)  The most time consuming was smooshing the dough into the bottom and top layer.  I was worried the cheesecake in the middle was going to ooze everywhere when I got to the top layer, so I pre-smooshed (yes, I realize that's probably a made up word) that layer on aluminum foil and then flipped it over the top of the cheesecake.  Aluminum foil made it stick a little bit, so I'd try my pie sheet next time.

Chocolate Chip Stuffed Cheesecake Bars via Rebekah's Pinterest via Hugs and Cookies

I also made a few of these sweet blankets last month.  At Black Friday sales I got four different soft flannel fabrics to make up some no-sew tie blankets for a few new babies that would be making their appearance within the next few months.  The first two were boys, and since I only have girly fabric left I'm hoping the next to arrive is a girl or else I'll just have to do some more shopping.  Scratch that, maybe I'll just go fabric shopping no matter what!  I just love the chevrons!  And the animal print on the other side that I also cut initials out of is pretty sweet too!

2014

Can't quite believe, and I feel a little old every time I say this, another year has passed.  It's 2014 already?

  I'm not sure exactly what the best approach to a new year is...a set of .new resolutions?  All the fun of imagining what the new year will bring us?  Right now I'm still feeling a little like I imagined too much for 2013 and I'm going to try to keep it simpler or at least plan a little less what this year will be.
 

  I've been thinking a lot about choices...saw some sayings and quotes on Pinterest recently that sparked my interest.  One was something to the effect of how we want to be measured by our choice not by chance.  Since 2013 seemed to be my year for the chance, I'm not sure how much I agree with that.  And yet, I'm still hoping that it is true, to a degree.  There is chance, but even when we factor in that unknown variable we still must choose.
 

  Anyways...a little time off and I start musing too much again!  We had a pretty great break.  Just the right amount of relaxing and work and family and friends.  I'm feeling ALMOST ready to get back to schedule, although I'm already dreading the alarm ringing tomorrow morning!

These were some fun cookies we made for moose for library school.  I used my sugar cookie recipie and added the rest from this Pinterest link.  I do have to say I make good sugar cookies, but like a lot of cookies I think the thing to do is use lots of real butter.
Reindeer Cookie Inspiration via Rebekah's Pinterest
 

  We also made these grinch kabobs for M&M's class that were quickly devoured.  Always fun to sneak a little fruit into the party!
Grinch Kabobs via Rebekah's Pinterest
 

 I did this fun project with my mom while she was here, and the bow is thanks to her crafty skills.  We had a lot of trouble finding a good pinterest link for a burlap wreath that gave instructions, so we turned to good old Google and came up with this one from Life on Mars.

 

 My last project of the break was to get the bathroom done.  Well we are closer anyways.  Dad finished the drywall, so I was able to paint and I got a few new decor items as a reward!  I also had hubby and a brother-in-law do some trim on Boxing Day so I had fun starting the painting of that.  Of course they ran out of pieces before they could finish around the door and under the bathroom window, so my almost finished room is still a little lacking, but I take what I can get!

Hope your break was as enjoyable as ours and you are ready to face this New Year!