Oh the blog world....

Internet, I've got a confession. I'm addicted to blogs... a lot of them. I had a New Year's Resolution to spend max 30 minutes, 4x per week reading blogs, but well, that went down the toilet around January 17th.

I read some creative blogs, some kid/mommy blogs and some ?? blogs.... mostly because they post on a regular basis. It's like a constant story that I get to follow. I occasionally comment and give my 2 cents but mostly I just read and enjoy.

With the pregnancy and awaiting babe, I find myself going from one blog to the next to get some perspective on parenthood and all the stuff out there. Because of the bloggers I follow, I've been on to some really great stuff- like wraps and cloth diapers and making your own baby food and taking photos to documenting life to good recipes.

Also, I've been entering in a lot more contests.... I haven't won anything just yet, but I hope to someday! Simple hosts many giveaways (it's a review site) and it's currently giving away a Kyliewrap. I'd love to win a wrap. With so many options, I'd love to get my hands on a few (made by small businesses, mostly SAHM's too!) to try them out!

An old post from a now defunct blog attempt... what else is new?

I went all out and bought a used version of What to Eat When You're Expecting. You see, it was part of a package- 4 pregnancy/kid books for $4! A great bargain! I love craigslist! But I don't really like reading it, or really have a desire to follow it. When we first found out we were pregnant Matt decided he really wanted us to eat healthy, really healthy, for the baby. Yeah sure, I did too, but I know that I'm not great at changing my eating habits- plus my eating wasn't/isn't that bad to begin with. As I browse through the book they talk about the Best Odds diet... a diet to give you and your baby the best odds at a health pregnancy. Only I think that if I follow the best odds diet, I would be one very unhappy, cranky pregnant lady, and that cant' be good for the baby, the lady or the husband, right? Doughnuts are on the no-no list- not even once a month. Cookies, fruit filled ones, are on the once a month list. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Fig Newtons (or Fig Newmans in my case- see organic!) but I need me some cookies on a regular basis. I have always eaten ice cream on a semi-daily basis. I only skip about 2 days a week, and sometimes that's because I've substituted something else that's equally yummy (like creme brulee). Sometimes I'll have both! I've started juicing so that I can get more leafy green vegetables hidden inside my carrot/apple/orange juice- the greenish tint doesn't even bother me! See I'm trying! Don't even get me started on the foods that are off limits- raw eggs, deli meat, raw fish, alcohol, blue cheese, etc. I can abide by some of these quite easily, just because I don't really care for them (alcohol and raw fish) but damn, that blue cheese is calling my name! But I've resisted so far- willpower!- but not so much with the raw eggs (a little cupcake batter never hurt anyone, right?). Ok, enough of the rant... My diet thus far today as consisted of: peanut butter on english muffin (a fine balance of carbs/protein in my book- Best Odds diet would say no-no to the white flour english muffin, though), some dried berries (yeah!), 4 Cadbury eggs (yummy!), Macaroni and Cheese, a glass of juice and some bubbly water (doctor says watch for bloating- with water, really?). Moderation people, that's what I'm talking about... can't we just live with moderation?

A Perfect Sunday during the Holidays...

Today Matt and I went over to Ron and Sue's to make Spritz cookies. She actually did all the prep work but we got to push the cookies through the tube into fun shapes- wreaths, trees, poinsettas, flowers, dogs and butterflies. It was great times!

Sibs and I chilled in the chair, in front of the big screen, reading newspaper ads under a blanket for about an hour while Matt watched football. Perfect! Oh, and we rolled over to Moraga in Ellamae- the new Toyota Corolla Stationwagon! We love her!

Then we went to Alameda with Jesse and Kristen. We got to taste some great wines at Rosenblum and then headed over to Hangar One. What a great day! I can't wait to take Jon, RedLin, and Russ there!!!

To top it all off, we went to a great Thai Restaurant on Park Street. The weird cleaner smell really put us off, but the food was great!!!!

We're watching The Simpsons by the fire and getting ready for bed, the electric blanket is waiting! Happy Kids!

Thankful

So many things to be thankful for....
Family
Friends
Our power going out last night... and Jeremy's computer to save Movie Night
Starting a small business with success
Being able to follow my dreams
Blogs... really!
Pandora radio
Our Fireplace
My Dog
Our House
Our Neighborhood
Making Cookies
Tea
Family
Our Chickens

Cupcakes make people happy...

but my husband bringing me tea in the cupcake mug makes me even happier. I love tea!

We are drinking Otea Santorini. Heaven!

Imagination Vacation

Someone I know (a fellow Kappa and someone I've networked with a bit to get technical) has started a great organization. Even being away from the "cancer world," I still feel very connected to the cause (and I should, I've know too many people affected by the disease). This seems like a great cause.

It's an Imagination Vacation partners with area hospitals to host special events for pediatric cancer patients and other seriously ill children. We believe that every child deserves the chance to enjoy family vacations and create memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, many of these special patients spend much of their time in and out of the hospital, undergoing treatments and testing, not playing and vacationing like many of the other kids their age. During our special events, patients simply travel down the hall to arrive at a dreamland destination without leaving the hospital. The possible vacation destinations, ranging from Zoo Light Safaris to Hawaiian Holidays, and Winter Wonderlands to Spring Soirees, are as endless as a child's imagination.

Slanket... Everyone loves a slanket!

It's so funny that a conversation regarding a Slanket has come up twice in less than two weeks. I can't remember who I was talking to, but I was telling him (I seem to remember it being a him) that I really wanted a Slanket for the holidays... and low and behold Simple is hosting a give away. I can't afford one of these right now and my family thinks I'm nuts for wanting one, so maybe I'll win one!!! And then I'll read, read, read... and blog while comfy and warm! I wanna a chocolate one!