Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > DIY Valentines Food Gifts

 Are you gearing up for Valentine's Day?  I know I am.  I had already made Valentine's goodies for the cute doggies in my life and I felt like maybe I needed to do a little something yummy for the cute humans too...

 I like to make food gifts for all my Sweethearts and package up everything in cute packages. I bought some Wilton Treat Sampler Boxes that have 4 removable trays in the larger box.  Just enough trays for Buckeyes, Pistachio Craisin Almond Bark, Fudge, and Glazed Pecans.  

I gave the boxes some love with another paint chip tag like the one I used on the Valentine's Day banner (thanks Sherwin Williams!) embellished with a book page pinwheel, glitzed up with Martha Stewart's new glitter line. Then I tied it all up with some fun fringe trim.

The pistachio craisin almond bark was one of those happy accidents -happy for my tummy anyway. I had some leftover melted almond bark from my adorable Valentine's fortune cookies, and letting chocolate go to waste is a crime in my book; so I spreaded it onto a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and sprinkled in some pistachios and craisins. After it had hardened and cooled, I broke up the bark into chunks and swooned dramatically after I had took a bite. Best 2 minute dessert ever!

Next, I had to make the S'mores because I wanted to use that cute saying, "Sending You S'more Love!"  

This one's just as easy - I made S'mores in my oven and then dipped them in chocolate and sprinkled them with teeny, tiny hearts.  After cooling, I packed them up in a clear treat bag, tied it with ric rac, and attached my tag.  The back of the tag says, "Sending You S'more Love."  You can never have too much love!


-Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Team Spirit

"Go ____________!"

Um... does anyone know who's playing in the Superbowl...?

Oh, it's apparently the New England Patriots and the New York Gnats, oops I mean Giants. Can you tell I'm really into football? Yeah, not so much. What I'm really into is Superbowl fashion, snacks, and commercials, in that order.

Luckily this year the team colors are pretty much the same for both teams and their colors that are popping up everywhere for spring: red, blue, and white! Superbowl fashionistas and the rest of us that like to fake it, rejoice!

Here's some great looks whether you are chip and dipping it, pulling for your squares in the football pool, out blissfully shopping with your girlfriends; or watching Madonna vogueing with her freakishly toned arms in the half time show.

Tees by Reebok
Flats by Aerosoles

Casual Jackets by Charlotte Russe
Boots by Lucky Brand

Skinny Denim by MEK
Boots at DSW

Or you could grab a girlfriend and your team spirit by the hair, and "paint" your team colors on each other.  You would be the hit of the the party! Just make sure that you don't leave a part of your "outfit" smeared on some one's couch...



Happy Superbowling!

~Angela

Dear Me > Hello February

AnneTaintor.com

Goodbye January, Hello February!!!  If January is "GO" month I'm starting February off as "GE" month as in GOOD ENOUGH.  In honor of "GE" month I'm publishing a post I wrote in January but never published.  So here it is:

I don't know how you people do it!!  Who are the "you people" I'm talking about?  I'm talking about the you who work whether it is outside the home or inside the home taking care of kids, pets, house, husband, and possibly your own parents.

As Katherine Hepburn said, "Life is hard. After all, it kills you."  I'm dragging my butt around and I don't think I can do anymore but yet there is so much more to do.    

Things I took care of:

• Fixed my facebook app on my phone (it seemed to be in revolt) which ended up with me updating my system, backing up my phone to the "Cloud" (which I for some reason want to call "The Clown" and oh I'm almost out of space already so, I will now go back to backing up to my computer).
• Wrote my thank you notes for my Christmas gifts so I could use them and/or put them away (I have a thing about keeping my gifts together and not using them till I write my thank you's).  Hello, Starbucks card!
• Oh and since I was mailing thankyou's why not mail my Christmas cards too! (I write a letter every year to include in my mom's Christmas card, which she of course mailed out in December.  Usually I take the same basic letter and tweak it a little for my Christmas cards - but not this year.  I sent the original letter out in January saying Merry Christmas.)
• Got on Facebook on my computer - which I never do, so I could Like "Smarty Had A Party" site (Which I looove!!) while talking to the Future Mrs 2Wicked so that she could get a discount on her order.  Did you know the site that is on your computer looks different than the Facebook App on your smart phone?  FM2W had to tell me what the green dot meant after your friend's name.  She didn't know what the symbol that looks like a battery symbol meant.  Can anyone tell me what that is? 
• Went to my Mom's and took down her Christmas decorations, put them away, and then put up her Valentine's decorations.  Took a sauna bath over there, as her house is very warm and I was dressed in normal winter clothes -- going over in my bikini next time even if it's 27 degrees out.
• Watched a movie with my husband - yeah that's right we try to do stuff together.  FYI - sometimes I watch movies with him and I'm rubbing my hands together thinking "Oh yeah, a little 90 minute nap." - but Warrior was really good and I watched the whole movie.
• Cleaned out that drawer underneath my oven.  Before I say it, I want everyone to note that I cook dinner probably 25 nights out of 30 and I entertain a lot -- okay here it goes.  It was really. Really. Gross. (Insert gagging sound here.) But it's done and I probably won't do it for another thirty three years.

AnneTaintor.com

Update:  I found out that Facebook symbol that looks like a battery is an Iphone symbol or maybe just a smartphone.


So ladies, relax and cut yourself some slack because it's officially "Good Enough" month at Chaos and Gloss!


- Laurie

Recycle, Reuse, ReDecorate! > Dog Sweater DIY

**Disclaimer**
No, I have not become one of "those people" who refer to their pets as, "one, of my children" nor do I paint my pet's toenails, let them eat at the table, or have them written into my will. I'm simply a gal, with a little dog, with a lot of goodwill sweaters laying around. Got it?!

Okay, now that I've reassured you and myself that I have not unwittingly joined the, "I'm way to obsessed with my dog" club; check out this adorable sweater Laurie and I repurposed from an old sweater from Goodwill!

(She luuvvvs it, can't you tell?!)

This is all really her fault ya know, because every time I make her go outside, she stands by the back door with this same grimace and shivers like she's in the Arctic. I felt like she was telling me, "I'm cold! Now make me an embarrassingly cute sweater, STAT!" or maybe it's that she's now just paying the price for being such a drama queen of a dog...Whichever works for me!

This sweater was so easy anyone (including me) can do. We started off with a small children's sweater like this:

Next, we cut off the arms and cut down one of the sides of the sweater, opening it up. Next you will need to turn the sweater inside out and place it on your dogs back with the ribbed sweater bottom hem, up around your dog's neck.

I'm going to be honest, this next part is a little dicey. You will then need to tranquilize your dog (or cat!) or bribe them with bacon strips like I did; to stand still while you use safety pins to pin around their neck, chest, and front legs, essentially making a pattern. You read safety pins, right? Because one poke with a sewing pin and your dog is never coming near you, or a sweater ever again. Make sure to mark where you want the sweater to stop on their back (i.e. -before their "business").

Once you have it snugly fitted, remove the sweater (without unpinning) and trim the excess on the outside of your pins. Next you will take your sewing machine and sew around the inside of your pins and all the raw edges with a zigzag stitch. Remove pins and turn right side out.  Now you have an adorable dog sweater for a bacon breathed, crabby dog. 

Viola!

Note: Save your scraps! This recycled sweater idea would work great for dolls clothes, winter head  bands, leg warmers, coffee cozies, etc.! Hmmm.. maybe we need a post on this. Stay tuned!

~Angela

**No animals were hurt or injured while making this sweater**

Well, not physically anyway...

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Be Mine

This post was supposed to be about making this Valentines Banner, incorporating a lot of sparkly stuff that I love.  

But . . . making this banner made me think about my "Be Mine."  Now I want to write about my favorite Valentine, my husband!   


Reasons why I cherish my husband and why I know he cherishes me:

• He lets me ride in the front of his truck and not in the back in a cage.

www.nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

• He carries all the heavy loads.

www.nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

• He loves me more than his bike, boat, truck, etc. and would rather sleep with me than the fore mentioned items!

www.nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

Ladies, cherish those husbands and let you favorite guy know how much you love and appreciate him. - unless one of those pics are of you then I would just ignore Valentine's Day!  


Okay, back to your regular sponsored program - the "Be Mine" Banner.  First up - it's "Be Mine" because I was too lazy to make "Be My Valentine" or "Happy Valentine's Day!"

Have you seen those cool ads for Sherwin Williams Paint in Better Homes and Gardens, where they've made a cake out of their paint chip cards?  I see those and I think they're saying to me, "Come get some of these cards and use them to make something."  I'm sure that's what they're saying sooooo, that's what I did.  

My Valentine banner is made from Glidden "Candy Apple" paint card, ric rac, book pages, glitter, and sparkly letters and hearts that I picked up last year at Walmart for 99 cents.  There you have it - easy and almost free to make!


-Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Lucky Red

Is there a better way to start Friday off than by gazing at some fashion?  Monday was Chinese New Years and I'm all about wearing some of that lucky "Red." I'm really not the kind of person to wear all red, although I've rocked a pair of red jeans back in the day.  I should have hung on to them because, wouldn't you know it, they are back in style this year (and I'm exactly the same size now as I was then...haha, *sob*)!  Now, I'm a bit more conservative and I like my red in smaller doses.  If you're shopping on Polyvore you can put together any number of crazy expensive outfits while sitting in your cozy little home, never having to bankrupt yourself for fashion.  I love it!


Outfit #1 

I do love those red booties.  Remember in the movie, "In Her Shoes", where she has that closet full of gorgeous shoes she never wears because just looking at them makes her feel good - having these booties in my closet would make me feel aahmazing!


Outfit #2

Check out the purse above - that was in my Polyvore wardrobe a couple of weeks ago.  The earrings you will be seeing again in the next outfit.  


Outfit #3

The red flats were already in my Polyvore Wardrobe from a couple of weeks ago.


Outfit #4

There are those red flats, black handbag and red earrings again!!!


My Polyvore Wardrobe is like my actual wardrobe - I'm trying to build on things I already have! If you take a closer look you'll see that most people already have a lot of those items in their closet.  Everyone has a basic black turtleneck, several pairs of jeans, black handbag (if you are me you have a red handbag also) and you probably even have that pair of gray slacks.  We all know that we have handbags of every color in our closets.  And I don't know about you, but I have enough coats to keep everyone in a small nation warm.  


Ladies, go assess your closet and what the heck, start your weekend off early and do a little shopping for some red.


- Laurie

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Be Mine, Valentine - Part 2

Okay my little cupids, here are the photos of my DIY school Valentine's Day cards that I promised you yesterday. Finally! 

My laptop lives another day, but looking at these photos you might notice that my camera (or camera skills) have seen better days, but here they are!


This one is my playing card themed Valentine:

It's cute message reads, "King Cole commands you a happy Valentines day!"

Here's the inside:

I put a couple of minis in a cello bag and then stapled the tops together.

The next one I did was a pirate themed Valentine:

I used chocolate coins as my "treasure"

Last but not least is my "Fish in the Sea", themed Valentine:

It reads, "Of all the fish in the sea, thanks for being a friend to me!"

I finished it off with some gummy fish and sharks in a vase shaped cello bag.

Thanks for being patient! Now I have to go and try to distract myself from all this Valentines candy laying around...

~Angela

Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate > Be Mine, Valentine!

Love is in the air! Well "something" is in the air over here.  Love at my house must smell like bacon and boy feet...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I've started thinking about the dreaded "school Valentines" dilemma. I love a holiday that revolves around the color red and any excuse to eat candy (oh yea, yea, and love), but picking out school Valentines is like a supreme court deliberation. Oh. The. Pressure.

I usually trudge around store to store, hunting around for the best deal for 90 Valentines (Yes, I said 90!) , and looking for a Valentine that does not violate the "boy code" of Valentine giving. There is a detailed list of criteria for school Valentines for boys that rivals NASA's liftoff check list:

• There can be no mention of "love" or "kisses" or "hugs", because that is so "ewwwww!" and you will be witness to a full fledged freak out of, "This one says love! I can't say love to my friend Cameron!  Moooom!"
• There can be no "girl" stuff on them.
• No pencils or erasers, or anything else that doesn't involve a piece of candy.
• Has to have some kind of candy directly attached - and it has to be the "good" kind of candy.  No peppermints, sweeties or tootsie rolls. No recycling of the dredges of your Halloween candy (darn)!!
• It has to incorporate something "cool" or "funny" like fire, superheros, crossbones, four wheelers, ninjas, burps, or any other things that would impress a 7- 11 year old boy, and maybe one or two girls.

Why don't I let them pick out their own, you ask? I tried that once and lets just say, that we would probably still be standing in the Valentine aisle from last year, and someone left the store in tears - it wasn't the kids.

So I got ahead of the school Valentines game and made some great valentines that everyone will love, including your picky kids:

TA DA!

What? You can't see them?! Oh, that's right, that's because my computer is a hunk of junk and won't read the disk that have these awesomely cool Valentines pictures on them. ARHGGG! So while I curse at my laptop and try to repost them, here are some great ideas other fabulous gals came up with:

Plumadorable  (Free printable!)

Fiskars

Fiskars

Zakka Life (Free printable)

Check back later for pictures of my ideas - or pictures of my computer in the garbage, whichever comes first.

~Angela

Celebrate, Celebrate, Celebrate > Chinese New Year

Happy New Year's - that's Chinese New Years to you.  


If you didn't know, today is Chinese New Years and the Year of the Dragon.  I like any reason to celebrate and Chinese New Years offers some unique opportunities.  






Reasons why I like Chinese New Years:




Clean House:  You know what they say about a great way to get your house in order is to have a party.  Well, Chinese New Year takes care of this because traditionally before the new year, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away ill fortune and to welcome good luck.  I understand this because a messy house seems like ill fortune and when my house is clean anything seems possible.


Buy new clothing:  Any celebration where buying new clothes is involved is okay with me!!!  New clothing symbolizes a new beginning, and having more than enough things to use and wear in the New Year.  Also red clothing is often worn because the color red is believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.  

New Clothes + Red = Good Fortune 

Family Gathering:  Celebrating with family, again for the same reason I have a get together on New Year's Day - I want to begin the year the same way I mean to continue - surrounded with family and friends.


Gifts:  Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes.  Yep, that's right, come and visit me and bring me a little gift - 'cause I like gifts.


Fireworks:  I like fireworks (just ask my neighbors.)  Enough said about that!


Have a little dinner party to celebrate.  I'm going to give you my recipe for Chinese Chicken Stew.  I don't know where this recipe came from as I've had it for years.

CHINESE CHICKEN STEW 

2 lbs. boneless skinless               2 cans chicken broth
   chicken                                       2 TBL cornstarch

2 tsp five spice powder               2 red bell peppers,

1 tsp red pepper flakes                  coarsely chopped

2 TBL peanut oil                         4 TBL soy sauce

2 onions, coarsely chopped         2 TBL sesame oil

16 oz. mushrooms, sliced            4 green onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced                Cooked rice

 

Toss chicken with five spice powder.  Season with red pepper flakes.  Heat peanut oil in large skillet.  Add chicken, cook and stir till chicken is brown and almost completely cooked.  Add onion, green pepper and garlic, saute till chicken is completely cooked.  Add chicken broth (reserving 1/4 c. broth for thickening), mushrooms, and soy sauce, simmer for about 40 minutes.  

Mix chicken broth and cornstarch together.  Stir in cornstarch mixture, sesame oil and green onions; cook another 10 minutes or so until stew is a nice thick consistency.

Serve over rice.

Now for the disclaimer:  I kind of think recipes are like a rough outline and you can use some or all of it.

Don't like mushrooms - don't add them.  

Red Peppers -I'm using the mini sweet peppers because that's what I have.  I've used green peppers before also.

Red Pepper Flakes - I've been known to use 2 tsp. red pepper flakes because I like this a little spicy.  

Chicken - I usually use 3 lbs of chicken. 

Peanut oil - If I don't have it, I use olive oil.

There you have it! 

For dessert, I made fun Fortune cookies.  I dipped them in Almond Bark and then dipped in sprinkles.  You can't go wrong with sprinkles and a fortune!

Now I'm off shopping so I can start the Chinese New Year with new clothing.

-Laurie

Frock Me Friday > 2012 Fashion Trends

Now that 2012 is steadily rolling down the track, all the designers are pumping out all of their new spring looks. Today on Frock Me Friday, we are going take a look at some of the fashion trends for 2012.

Did I lose some of you with the word "designer"? What, you can't relate to people that make a $3000 jacket out of Karl Lagerfield's belly button lint? You can't envision yourself wearing the same outfit that a model who considers her saliva lunch, wears on the runway? You don't think you can pull off "military zombie" makeup on date night?! Yes you can!

Designer fashion is alot like that girl you knew (or were) in high school. You know, the one that was really outspoken and wild; pushed all the limits with her skirt lengths, life choices, and crazy things she said. The girl that seemed to have cornered the market on Wet n Wild lip liner, black eyeshadow, and boyfriends. Or anyone that wore a feathered skirt, baby doll socks, lumberjack hat, or safety pin jacket. Fashion designers are that girl! Underneath all that, "Look at me!!", what they're really saying is: "Look at me and like me, 'cause I'm just using this pointy cone bra that I'm wearing, to get you to notice me". You did notice and probably envied how brave and cool they seemed, but knew that there was no way in heck you were going to walk around with cone boobs...It's all about interpretation my lovelies, and anyone can pull off any high- end fashion look and make it work for you!

Here's the good news ladies: 2012 is looking chock full of bright color, feminine prints, and romantic lace. It's the year of the girl!  Here are a few great fashion trends for 2012 that any, better- than- average gal (yes that's you!) can wear this year:

Electric Blues:

2012 blues by glossyflossy featuring embellished dresses

Romantic Lace:

Romantic Lace by glossyflossy featuring a lace coat

Feminine Prints:

Feminine Prints by glossyflossy featuring a pleated skirt


Remember to pick and choose easy pieces that work for your style. Happy Shopping!

~Angela

I Need Minions > Get Out Of My House Continued

I bet you're wondering who's Fred and what does that have to do with getting things out of my house?  Maybe I want Fred out of my house!  No, not really.  






I've been on a "GO" roll.  Things I've "GOed" out of my house:

• Cranberries 
• Candy Canes
• Pumpkin - Had big dreams of using this at Christmas - but as usual my "I Want To Do" list was bigger than the actual number of hours in the day.  Anybody else have that problem?

Now for the results:
*Cranberries:  I made Pioneer Woman's wonderful Pork Loin with homemade cranberry sauce.  First time I've ever cooked cranberries myself. Yup, that's right I'm a cranberry cooking virgin!  I blame that on my Mama because she always makes cranberries and gives me some of hers.
*Candy Canes:  Like everyone else in America I made heart suckers.
*Pumpkin:  I made dog treats for all my kids' dogs.

Fred

Everyone (except us) has dogs (all are rescued dogs.)  I wanted to make dog treats for Christmas but I ran out of time so those dog treats are now Valentine Treats.  These treats were made with pumpkin because it supposedly is good for a dog's digestion, and rice flour because some dogs are allergic to wheat.  Okay, that is someone else's blog saying that - not me.  These dogs come over to my house, eat stuff off the floor and sometimes I look outside and one of them will be eating something that they have found.  I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what that something might be.  I do want to be a good Grandma to these dogs so I made them healthy treats.  

Cleo’s Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

2 eggs
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups brown rice flour 
1 teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.

In large bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin to smooth. Stir in dry milk, sea salt, and dried parsley (if using, optional). Add brown rice flour gradually, combining with spatula or hands to form a stiff, dry dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface (can use the brown rice flour) and if dough is still rough, briefly knead and press to combine.

Roll dough between 1/4 – 1/2″ – depending on your dog’s chew preferences, ask first – and use biscuit or other shape cutter to punch shapes, gathering and re-rolling scraps as you go. Place shapes on cookie sheet, no greasing or paper necessary. If desired, press fork pattern on biscuits before baking, a quick up-and-down movement with fork, lightly pressing down halfway through dough. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully turn biscuits over, then bake additional 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely on rack.

Note:  I added more pumpkin so I could work in all the flour.  I also used white rice flour instead of the brown as that was what I had. The recipe came from Simmer Till Done.


I just realized that I make sugary, white flour treats for my Grandkids all the time.  Guess who got all those heart suckers?  Does that make me a bad Grandma?


-Laurie

Things Will Go Wrong > A Storm's A - Comin!

Here in the Pacific Northwest we are expecting our first major snow of the year - up to 8"! I hear your snarky laughing, Montana girls, but for us that is some major winter activity.

This forecast is giving me anxiety for the following reasons:

• I'm allergic to the snow shovel. It's true. I break out in hives...
• There's going to be a snow day. The kids have spent more days at home in the last 30, than in school.  My grocery bill is killing me and if I have to play another game of Uno, I'm gonna run away el' uno.
• It's been cold, cold, cold, and Winter is giving me a bad case of cabin fever. I love my house but I don't want to be there 24/7. I'd rather be out helping with the search party for the sun...or shopping. Yea, shopping.
• Several of my friends are slowly torturing me with sunny pictures from Disneyland and Disney World. Seriously, girls, have some compassion for those of us who are slowly freezing  to death when you are Facebooking. Sheesh! Okay, maybe that was a little melodramatic...
• I love to snow sled but I hate snowpants almost as much as I hate swimsuits. One year I tried to get away with just wearing dark pants and that ended with horrified children because I looked like I had peed myself...  Maybe I had, some of those Carmichael runs are white knucklers!

So in an effort to save my sanity here are a few snow day activities that are fun for kids AND their mamas, or any of you ladies who are stuck inside:

• Play in the mud:



Okay, not this kind of mud. Even that cow is thinking, "Ewwww!". I'm talking a fun, chocolate, mud mask facial for Moms and kids. Yes, I said chocolate.

Chocolate Facial Mask:

1/3 c. Cocoa powder

3 T. Heavy cream

2 t. Cottage cheese

1/4 c. Honey

3 t. Oatmeal

~Mix well using a small blender. Smooth onto face. Relax for 10 minutes and then rinse.

Or eat it. Whichever...This could be a fun kitchen activity and snack all in one, and everyone gets soft, yummy smelling, skin. Yay, everyone wins!

• Christmas Card Recycling. I'm sure a lot of you have Christmas cards still laying around, right? How about some crafty  recycling:

Christmas card trees

Have the kids make mini houses:

Have some great laughs and make wacky photo collages from the photo cards you received this season:

This is a real Christmas card but you get the drift, right? Give them glasses or hats, or put them on a beach or riding an elephant. It always a guaranteed laugh when you tape a top hat to someone's head. I have a cute "NRA" (no joke) themed Christmas card from one of my friends that I'm dying to use. Mabe I'll post pics... 

• Or how about bringing the outside activities in.

Bowling:

@ Ucreate

Go to the drive-in movies:

Play some volleyball with a balloon:

• If all else fails, just eat your way through a snow day. Today is the day that you scrounge around in your pantry and you finally make that old package of muffins, cookies, brownies, or anything else you got suckered into buying at Costco and then never made. Or use up your coconut - doesn't everyone have a weird bag that they don't know where it came from or how long its been there...?

• Or make Snow Cream!

1 gallon snow

1 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups milk

Directions: When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.     

Make sure you read clean snow, although eating dirty snow all those years, didn't seem to hurt my little brothers...

For you ladies who get to spend a snow day by yourself, here are a few ideas for you lucky ladies:

• Make today "Ladiscape Day". Get out the paraffin wax kit, pedispa, exfoliating kit, or anything else that's been stuck under your bathroom sink since it was given to you on Mother's Day or last year's Valentines Day and give yourself a little winter spa day.
• Catch up on all those trashy and frivolous TV shows that you never get to watch because your husband acts like he's having a seizure when you turn them on. Us real housewives need to stick together! You can even watch them online on your laptop or smart phones - in bed!
• Take a bubble bath and catch up on your pile of magazines we all have under the table. Or better yet, check out a free digital book or cookbook from your library. (Seriously, if you haven't done this you need to try it! Just log on to your local library's website and follow the instructions.)
• Go through all your "favorites" bookmarks on your computer and get inspired all over again. Make a new recipe, rearrange your decor, or follow a tutorial on how to jazz up those family photos.
• Discover Pinterest! If you haven't already heard of it, it's a virtual pin board where people put photos that they like or inspire them onto different themed "boards"; and then it gets shared with all the other users. Okay, that was officially the worst description of Pinterest ever, but if you click the red "P" on the right hand side of this blog you can see what we've been "pinning." A word of caution: this site is very addictive! You will find yourself planning a pretend wedding, decorating rooms in your house you don't even have, putting together fantasy wardrobes, and drooling over delicious recipes, oh and losing track of all time and space around you. You've been warned. But do it anyway.
  
  

Have a great snow day!

~Angela

P.S. If anyone knows where to find jegging snowpants, please call me ASAP.