Till Then Smile Often

January 2, 2015

Friday Favorites | New Year

Well I am coming off of a 9 day vacation and working for one day before the weekend, this should be fun. Waking up to an alarm again was not fun. It is casual Friday though so there is that at least. So let’s do it, to it so this day passes quick, shall we? M’Kay.

Favorite Haircut: I am getting the bug to get my haircut. I haven’t cut it since August so probably a good idea. After watching Friday Night Lights all week Minka Kelly has been inspiring me with her hair.

Favorite Quote: Seamus is my family.

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Favorite Recipe: Broccoli and Bacon bake? Yes, please.

Favorite DIY: This would be a fun one to learn to make.

carrier wine bottle glasses diy, diy, woodworking projects

Favorite Funnies:

Oh those minions.

Minions haha! @O.B. Wellness Amanda & @Stefanie W W W W W W W W W W W Parker

This was just too cute!

Yeah that only lasted the first day!

" Ruff" Promises" "I Promise to Never do It when You are Home!" "Sincerely, Chew Do!"

Let’s get this weekend started!

Linking up with Amanda

Also linking up with Natasha for 5 on Friday.

January 1, 2015

Losing Focus | Setting Goals

I haven’t posted for a few days because I just couldn’t focus enough to get it together. I have been feeling really broken. Normally I like looking back at the year and seeing all I have done but this was a tough year. It didn’t help that I read this amazing book that I didn’t read but FELT. I don’t know if it was because I was emotional or if it was just the journey the main character went through trying to find her happy, that spoke to me. When I look back at the year I see myself just “getting through” life and just trying to get through the day. Don’t get me wrong there have been some great times but for the most part I was working for the weekends, and constantly feeling overwhelmed and needing to get caught up.

So my word for this next year is FOCUS! I don’t want the weeks to just go by, I want to really enjoy them and to be working towards short and long term goals.

* Work towards becoming debt free – at least 50% aside from my mortgage by the end of the year.

* Travel to at least 2 places this year – maybe to meet some bloggers 😉

* Continue to look into starting my own business

* Get back to working out 4-6 times a week

* Finish the renovations on my house

* Spend 5 minutes every morning writing out a to-do list incorporating steps for long term goals

* Stay in a Bed and Breakfast for a day or weekend

* Take a woodworking class at the local college

* Open my heart to opportunities and people I otherwise wouldn’t have before

I am sure this list will grow and change throughout the year but I want to be more open and present in shaking some things up.

What are some of your goals?

Do you re-evaluate your goals daily, weekly or monthly?

December 29, 2014

Christmas Weekend

So I ignored this blog for awhile but it was all in the name of spending time with family, and enjoying my vacation. I still have four more days and I still have to get my decorations put away and clean my house. Hopefully I will still spend a lot of the time reading and just relaxing. I got a new laptop for Christmas and since it is Windows 8, I am still trying to figure out how it works.

I went to my brother’s for Christmas Eve after dropping Seamus off at my Dad’s house. We had dinner before the girls headed to bed to wait for Santa. I couldn’t really sleep so I read most of the night, thanks to their dog wanting to cuddle.

Being able to see the girls reaction on Christmas morning was so much fun. Every year is the best Christmas ever for them, and it’s just adorable.

* Getting ready to make sugar cookies for Santa

* Double-fisting cheese sandwiches

* Excited for their stockings

* Barbie remote control car – total score

* Just my brother and his cat. I swear that cat doesn’t like anyone else

* The Chocolate Cherry trifle I made for dessert

* The reason I didn’t sleep. Yes, she chose the middle of the couch to sleep.

After opening up gifts on Christmas Day I headed over to my Dad’s to see Seamus and to relax for a bit. I then walked next door to my best friends house to celebrate with them for a bit. After, I had dinner with my Dad before finally heading home for the night.

* They got a new puppy and he is adorable

* Her cousin helping with the loom I got her

If you recall from last week I was working on a DIY project that was a gift for Christmas. I gave it to my brother and SIL so I was free to post about it. I put it on Instagram so I apologize for the repost but this is the finished project.

I didn’t take many pictures this weekend but I had over 30 of Seamus, go figure.

How was your Christmas?

Linking up with Biana from B Loved Boston.

December 23, 2014

Muddy Buddies | Co-Worker Gifts

Every year I give out food gifts to my co-workers. This year I decided to do a muddy buddy recipe. This recipe came from The Recipe Critic and was the perfect recipe for my co-worker gifts. I ended up doubling the recipe because the original recipe only serves 8 people. Since this will most likely be my last post this week I want to wish you all a very Marry Christmas. Enjoy the time with family and friends.

Ingredients: 5 Cups Rice Chex Cereal ~ 23 ounce bag milk chocolate chips ~ 1 cup caramel bits ~ 2 TBSP Heavy Cream ~ 12 Shortbread Cookies (Sandies or Lorna Doones) ~ 1-1/2 cup powdered sugar ~ 3 packages of Twix Bars, chopped (6 sticks)

Directions:

In a big bowl place 5 cups chex cereal. In a microwave safe dish, melt the chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time until smooth. Be sure and stir after each 30 seconds. Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and stir until all the cereal is covered.

Melt the caramel and heavy cream in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Pour over the chocolate covered cereal mix. Lightly fold everything together so that it all mixes together.

Using a food processor pulse the cookies until fine. If you don’t have a food processor just place in a ziploc bag and roll over it with a can or rolling pin.

Add the powdered sugar to the bag and dump in the chex mix and shake until all the cereal is covered. I did about a half at a time. Add the twix to the mix and then serve. I placed them in festive individual sized bags.

Do you give baked goods as gifts?

5.0 from 3 reviews

Muddy Buddies

Ingredients

5 Cups Rice Chex Cereal ~ 23 ounce bag milk chocolate chips ~ 1 cup caramel bits ~ 2 TBSP Heavy Cream ~ 12 Shortbread Cookies (Sandies or Lorna Doones) ~ 1-1/2 cup powdered sugar ~ 3 packages of Twix Bars, chopped (6 sticks)

Instructions

In a big bowl place 5 cups chex cereal.
In a microwave safe dish, melt the chocolate chips for 30 seconds at a time until smooth. Be sure and stir after each 30 seconds.
Pour the melted chocolate over the cereal and stir until all the cereal is covered.
Melt the caramel and heavy cream in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time.
Pour over the chocolate covered cereal mix.
Lightly fold everything together so that it all mixes together.
Using a food processor pulse the cookies until fine. If you don't have a food processor just place in a ziploc bag and roll over it with a can or rolling pin.
Add the powdered sugar to the bag and dump in the chex mix and shake until all the cereal is covered. I did about a half at a time.
Add the twix to the mix and then serve. I placed them in festive individual sized bags.

December 22, 2014

Weekend Review | New Format

So it begins, the countdown to Christmas. I only have one more working day and then I am on a 9 day vacation. I am looking forward to doing nothing but reading, watching TV, and maybe cleaning up my emails. I am trying out a new format this week so I would love to hear your feedback on how you like it in the comments.

I was really bad and didn’t take pictures but I went down to my hometown to celebrate my best friends Mom’s birthday. I ended up at the bottom of their driveway in my pajamas (they lived one house down from our house) when I was two and they made me an honorary member of their family ever since. She is my second Mom, she has lead by example and in turn made me a better person. Their Dad (Pop T) also helped me fix my Dad’s storm door that was broken.

I scored these awesome deer statues from Walgreens, to continue my deer theme for Christmas they were 60% off too. I got my cute deer pillow cover that I got from Jane. While headed back from the birthday party, I stopped at Michael’s and I saw this really cute magnetic bumper sticker. Of course I had to get it.

I worked on a DIY project which is actually a Christmas gift so I can’t share much but I promise to after the holiday. So here is just a sneak peak.

Seamus was such a snuggly pup this weekend. He really just wanted to be near me, on me, or my blanket. When he looks at me with that face how can I resist? I can’t!!

How was your weekend?

Linking up with Leeann from Join the Gossip and Biana from B Loved Boston.

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