winter solstice

ours was filled with marshmallow making. we packaged them up with some hot cocoa and delivered a little solstice gift to neighbors and friends. we were lucky enough to have our first snowfall a few days ago, so a snowy walk ensued. then we snuggled up and read this, a favorite series around here.

happy winter!

rush and packaging

today and yesterday's reflections:

best rush of '09: giving birth to my daughter. seeing her little face for the first time was amazing and unforgettable.

best packaging: a couple months ago we received a wedding save the date and i loved the envelope and design of the card, modern and classic. i can't wait for the actual invitation...

I also love the jars for the apple sauce we made.

relaxing continued...

sam granted me another day of pampering. he took calvin to lunch and christmas shopping while maeve and i hung out at home. i did a bit of christmas sewing and wrapping and just laying around. then when he came home he made my most favorite dinner... vietnamese spring rolls! they are a bit labor intensive so he doesn't make them that often, in fact the last time was february of 2007 when i turned 30. they were delicious, just as i remembered them to be. once again i am so very blessed.

today's reflection:

the best change i made this year to the place i live is adding a new resident. we are so very lucky to have her. and today was a huge day in her little life... for the first time ever... she rolled over.

relaxed

sam surprised my sister and i with a day at the spa today. massages and facials. it was my first facial ever... and well, let's just say it will not be my last. i feel so very thankful that even though our lives are brimming with to-do's (especially now during the holidays...), i have a husband that remembers his wife likes to be pampered, just a bit. i am so very blessed.

today's reflection: best new food

crock pot meals have to be my favorite new food. a student that i had when i taught second grade gave me one as a thanksgiving present one year and i never used it much, but recently it has made a resurgence. it all started with this delicious and so easy recipe that i found: crock pot salsa chicken. sam has also been into cooking indian food and he is getting really, really good. so that is sort of a new favorite too.

ps. in the picture maeve has on a hand knit sweater and hat my friend lynn gave her. i love the color and the sparkly buttons. thanks lynn! i dream of being such a skilled knitter one day...

gifts

i made these little reusable bags for calvin's playgroup friends. each gift consisted of a large sandwich size bag and a smaller snack bag. i also included a napkin and bamboo spork. i lined the bags with PUL and sewed aplix to the tops so that the kids can easily open and close the bags themselves. i had all these supplies on hand (but originally bought from verybaby) and used fabric from my stash for the outsides.

i especially love how the napkins turned out. my friend made a blanket f0r maeve that had giant ricrak going around the outside. it inspired me to do medium ricrak as a border for the napkins. it added a little bit of color and fanciness. i put some organic cotton terry on the back of each napkin (also from verybaby) for added thickness, to clean up any messy faces or spills.

hopefully they will use get some use out of them. calvin has been using my prototypes for the last couple of weeks and i have washed them a few times to see how they stood up. i am happy to say that the bags are still perfect. calvin has loved using them and they came out of the wash ready for more use.

today's reflection: the best place

i would have to say home this year. there is no place like home.

reflections

i am going to try to do this. i know it is already the 10th, but hey, i am usually late to the party. in the midst of all my crazy gift making and wrapping, i think it will be nice to take a moment and reflect on the amazing year i just lived.

so today:

what album(s) really rocked my world this year? wilco: the album and bon hiver: for emma, forever ago (which actually came out last year but it was new to me this year).

i am putting the finishing touches on the presents i am making for calvin's playgroup friends. i hope to post pictures tomorrow.