My other Xmas card

Keep Believing Christmas Card

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Our Christmas Card

All Wrapped Up Christmas Card

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Chip's Apple Pie

I call this after my husband because frankly I learned to make for him.  I looked at tons of recipes for it but I couldn't find anything easy and appealing .  So after trying some out I settled with this combination recipe:

Filling
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp group cinn.
nut meg
5 med apples thinly sliced
1 lemon
vanilla to taste

I haven't baked the crust yet.  That is my next project before Christmas.

Yellow Squash Bread

This is the greatest recipe ever.  Especially during squash season.  I had sincerely exhausted every recipe for summer squash and zuchinni I had.  I came across this recipe at cooks.com:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,194,140183-236205,00.html

 

Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup of oil
2 cups of sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
2 cups of shredded yellow squash
3 cups of self rising flour
nuts are optional

Mix eggs, oil, sugar, and vanilla with mixer.  Add other ingrediats.  Mix with spoon.  Bake at 325 F for 45 to 60 minutes for a loaf.
I will add pictures soon :)

Changes

So how do you like my new look?  A change was in order, I was getting bored of the look and had seen it already in too many blogs. 
Send feedback, who knows I might change every few weeks according to your suggestions.  I feel an idea coming about...maybe a prize for the suggestion I chose?

Have a Happy Friday!

New Goals and a tough road ahead

This post is not about what you may think.  It's not about home management, menu planning or decluttering.  It's about my husband, Chip and I.  I like to think we're a pretty cool couple, we concentrate on what makes us work instead of focusing on what annoys us.  Don't get me wrong we don't bury our heads in the sand or avoid the big fat elephant in the room.  We choose to enjoy each other.  We laugh together, we read together and pretty much enjoy the companionship.  We both enjoyed something very much, so much that we never wanted to change, just the thought of this sent cold chills down our backs.  We both smoked ... yeah we loved smoking.  I am writing in the past tense because as you imagine, we have quit. 

I have smoked since I was 16 and let me tell you that the saddest day of this year was the day I said goodbye to my most trusted friend.  I did this for me, for my health, for Carr and for the future. Intellectually, I understand and agree that it was the smartest decision but in my heart I hold a sadness for the absence of a dear friend. I really can't say what started it all but I quit smoking and I am working out.

I walked a 5K. Yeah, you heard me, I actually did a 5K and am signed up for another on Thanksgiving morning.  I am trying to eat healthier food, which is very hard.  I will be posting some ideas for meals and what work and what doesn't.

 I actually did this!

This is how much time I took walking and pushing Carr' baby 

Not a day has gone by that given the opportunity I would smoke a cig.  People say it takes time.  I am willing to wait.  Everyday that comes by makes the urges more bearable. Funny how a child can change your whole life.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Seems crazy how times fly. What was important to you last year, is not the end all be all this year.  Maybe it is a sign of maturity and not your average flakiness.  Last year, I was almost brought to tears for not having the time or help to take my son to a pumpkin patch and have autumn pictures taken.  It was so upsetting! Autumn madness (http://ivonneloving.blogspot.com/2009/11/autumn-madness.html) will likely demonstrate better than I can explain how "mad" I actually was.  I am not saying, I am not crazy now, I'm just saying I'm more relaxed at it.

 

My life is filled with joy, responsibility, hard work, and laughter.  I have much more going on in my life in comparison to last year (if you read my blog frequently, you know) but despite what anyone from the outside might think, I am so much more relaxed.  If it gets better at this same rate, my life will be heaven by next year. 

I don't ask for much, not interested in riches, I shy away from fame and any type of notoriety.  I just desire to be debt free, have a house that we can make into a home, and that my husband's dreams come true, he is working very hard towards this.  The best life example we can give our child is that both his parents are intellectually and emotionally fulfilled.  Our son should see his parents happy, making him happy and trying to have an impact on the world around us.

Things that make Carr happy are TV toy commercials, anything Batman, (unfortunately) Happy Meals, when daddy plays music on the computer and we all have a dance party.  He also likes afternoon walks, taking naps with mommy.  He loves his Meme, Ri, Asherman and Ryan. We cannot forget his obsession over Kit Kats, emmis and lollipops.

Autumn brings with it warm meals, thoughtful planning, quiet nights and Christmas crafts. 

I never tire of saying this, I love that face!