I LOVE to read!

I always have a book (or two!) that I am reading...I don't go to bed without my book, I don't get up and go downstairs in the morning without my book, I don't leave the house without my book because who knows when I might find a moment when I am waiting for someone/thing or just a moment of peace and solitude where I can sit and enjoy.  It's amazing how completely refreshing and totally relaxing a few stolen moments to myself and my book can be. 

I love all kinds of fiction!  Yesterday I started reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  It's already great and I'm only in chapter 1.  I just finished Lauren Weisberger's The Devil Wears Prada...so fun (the movie is good too!).  There are some that I have read and instantly became a favorite like Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap series.  I loved every minute with all 3 books.  I truly enjoyed Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind.  It's a big commitment but such a classic.

Some of my favorite authors...Kristin Hannah (Firefly Lane was great!), Elin Hilderbrand (Barefoot-great book too!), Jennifer Weiner (Best Friends Forever), Jane Green (The Beach House), Lois Battle (Bed and Breakfast) and Elizabeth Berg (can't wait to read Home Safe)!

One of my favorite "moms-night out" activities is go (by myself) to B&N, grab a decaf and just wander the aisles.  I have a little notepad I take with me and I write down all the books/authors that I am interested in reading.  I then either go online to my library and reserve them right away or go wander my library in person!  I'm sure that is not B&N's idea of a good night but every once in a while I do find a book I can't live without so they get a little bit of my $. 


Here are some next-ups on my list...The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, The Buernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (too long but hopefully good), Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg, True Colors by Kristin Hannah and Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout.

There are so many more great books to read...it's truly never ending and that is what I probably love the most...I can always count on having a great book to enjoy.  The hardest part...when the book ends and it feels as though you will never find another that you enjoy so much and then you magically do and the cycle goes on and on!

Happy Friday everyone and send me your favorites books...I always need more to add to the list!!!  

I so love to read!

Organizing, organizing, blah, blah, blah...

Organizing is what we have been doing for the past couple weeks and I am amazed at what I have deemed important enough to keep all these years.  We even had a storage unit (that we recently emptied...cutting costs anywhere and everywhere) where I kept this stuff thinking that I couldn't live without it.  Craziness!

So here is where I started...

and here...I had to give up my sewing area for this little project...that will push me to get this organizing done quickly so I can sew again.

I have a love/hate thing going with organizing.  On one hand, it feels so good to weed through the stuff and get rid of it but on the other, the weeding takes so much time.  Also some stuff seems so silly to keep (old stuffies, gross pics from highschool when I thought I looked good, all the kids' school work from the day Katia started preschool...it's all special, right?)  but I know that if I had all the room in the world, I would want the stuff so I have to really weigh each and every thing.

Goodwill scores big...I had a van-load to drop off and I am pleased with what I decided to keep and what needed to go!  No regrets!

Off to Goodwill!

Ski Day!

In Boulder, we are lucky enough to be close to a wonderful ski resort!  It's Eldora and it's only about a 40 min drive from our house...love that!  (Eldora's motto..."Friends don't let Friends drive I-70"...perfect!)
Every fall we get the kids their season ski equipment from Christy Sports in Boulder and we are set and ready to go anytime we can and now that they are all great little skiers, it's all fun for everyone...no more bunny slopes...it's all blues for us baby!

The Troops...all set to go (come on Mom...no more pics)!

The Oldest...

The Son...

The baby...(where did the time go?)

I find it so interesting how their little personalities shine through while on that mountain-side.  My oldest, who generally is laid back, goes with the flow (except for those pre-teen moments), loves to have fun is exactly like that while skiing.  My son likes to have fun, likes all things perfect, and doesn't like to make a mistake.  This shines through while skiing.  My youngest is quiet, caring, sensitive and loves craziness and trying new things...she is a daredevil on the slopes...just like her daddy.  They all love to go skiing (also like their daddy) and are all so good.  I enjoy our ski day despite the work to get us all ready and out the door...it's so worth it to see their happy faces.

The crew...mostly...we almost got everyone in it.

The trees...my daredevils love the trees (make helmets an even better idea!) and I completely understand.  I loved going off the main trail when I was a kid and going through the little side trails just off the main trail.  I was always amazed at how quiet it was...loved it.  Maybe that is why I have an interest in cross-country skiing...quietness.  So the last of my pics are of the kiddos exiting their tree-trail...love it!

Favorite Blogs!

Today I thought I would let you know about some of my favorite blogs...

I didn't know anything about blogs/blogging until this past year when my friend told me about her friend and her blog.  That one blog and I was hooked.  Megan's blog was/is amazing plus it had all these links to so many more.  That was the beginning of my blogging days.  Each day I check out my favorites because 1. they are good at posting new stuff each day (better than me) and 2. they are all filled with such inspiration and ideas.

So here goes...Top 10 Blogs...ok, 14, and in no particular order Shana!  Too many to choose from!
1. Whatever...
2. Something To Do 
3. Reinvented
4. Today's Creative Blog
5. One Day at a Time
6. A Bit O' Shine
7. imperfect
8. Clover Lane
9. Little Bit Funky
10. Run the Race
11. V and Co.
12. The Pioneer Woman
13. The Macs
14. ElisaLou 

Hopefully you can just click right on the highlighted words and go enjoy each and every one of them!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy 11th Birthday!

To my amazing, wonderful 11 year old daughter who always makes me smile!
I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!

Katia loves to bake and she INSISTED on making her own cupcakes, decorate them, put 11 candles in 11 cupcakes (even though there were only 8 of us) and even light them all on her own!  She had to fight off little brother and sister to not help blow them out!  Such a good girl and such a big help to Mom...I could get used to just sitting back and watching her bake me treats...yummm

Singing Happy Birthday!

(nice outfit my dress-up queen!)

A little embarrassment is good for ya!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!  iTunes...here we come!

Thanks Aunt Donna!

(Can you tell she likes it?!)

It's your birthday week my sweet girl...ENJOY!

Snow Family...snow fun!!

Sending the kiddos outside to do their "rough-housing" ended up being a wonderful idea!  After quite awhile, they all came back saying Dad and I had to come out and see what they had done...it was our likenesses made of snow!!!  Wow...had to see that one for ourselves so we booted up and headed out.  

After making the trek across the park behind our house...

This is what was unveiled...

Masterpieces!!!  Starting on the left (snowmen left, that is)...Dad, Mom, Big Sis, Brother, Little Sis, baby, baby, baby (I hope that is not wishful thinking on their part!) 

This is Snowman Dad (a.k.a. Carl)!

Snowman Big Sis (Katia)!

Snowman Brother (Zander)!

Snowman Little Sis (Lili)!

Hmmm...where is that darn picture of Snowman Mom...hmmm...can't find it anywhere!

I am so glad they were driving each other crazy inside and decided to go play outside (with only a little encouragement from me)...this is what happens...I love it!!!  They were out there for a good hour and had such a great time, together...who knew it was possible after all the arguing and wrestling that had happened just before.  Holiday Break can get long but there really are things to do!!!  See??

By the way, did you notice Katia and Lili's snowmen both have pig tails and Zander's has a mowhawk?  Exact likenesses!

Happy snow days everyone...don't worry spring and summer will be here soon! 

Slow Going!

There's not too much stuff on my etsy.com site right now...I kindof took December off to hang with family and finish gifts I had started for them but put off once I got busy w/ A.Lovely.  
I think this year I am going to do the fam gifts first and then work on work stuff.  I mean I do love my family more and should make them a much bigger priority than last minute, right?

Isn't it crazy what we do?!!!  

I thought I would do a year in review of my FAVORITE bags!!!  These bags were all so fun and most were bought by friends so they never even made it onto my site.  I have so much fun making them but then to see my friends' reaction...it's so great!  

My top 10!!

1. The Maggie Bag

 

2. The sm. Chloe Bag

  

3. The Bella Bag

  

4. The Carol Ann messenger bag!  

This is the bag made for my Mom (and named after her too!)

 

5. The lg. Chloe Bag

 

6. another Maggie Bag!

 

7. another Bella Bag that I love...added side ties!

 

8. The Kat Bag...designed by me and great gift for girls!

 

9. The Chloe Bag w/ a bit funkier fabric...it's fun!

 

and lastly...

10. The Izzy Bag! 

 

I can't wait to see how this year unfolds and what new bags I can come up with!

 

Thoughts for 2010!

There is definitely a difference between Needs and Wants...that is one thing I definitely learned in 2009.  My focus for 2010 is to focus on the needs only and quite worrying about the wants.  

...happy healthy family, less stress, exercise daily, stretch daily, read daily, blog daily, weekly time to myself, sewing, creating, laughing, meditating (focusing everyday on what is important), my girlfriends


Goodbye 2009 and I welcome (with open arms) 2010!!!