Pneumonia.

Hello dear readers.

I have been battling illness for 3 weeks now and pneumonia for the past week.

There has been a trip to the ER, many medications, puking, coughing, no sleep, etc.

What? TMI?

I miss you dearly.

I will be back just as soon as I can.

Happy New Year!

Quietude.

Thinking I probably won't be blogging this week

 (does this count as blogging?).

Still nursing this damn cold or whatever you call it.

Now it's in my chest. 

Actual all three of us have it.

Also, trying to wrap (get it) up all my last minute projects and shopping.

Merry Christmas!

and 

Happy Holidays! 

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

Chillin'

We've got spirit, yes we do!

Christmas spirit that is!

I don't like to go overboard with the decorations (mainly because I don't want to clean it up) but I love a real tree, a wreath and stockings on the fireplace and some boughs (trimmed from the bottom of the christmas tree) on the top of the entertainment center (no pictures of that yet because I have to add the lights).

I use wire edged ribbon in lieu of the metallicy fuzzy garland. I think it looks elegant.

And, of course, I kept the glass ornaments up high.

I have yet to decorate the wreath. In past years we've ordered one already decorated and delivered right to the house but in order to save a few bucks ($35 to be exact) I purchased one undecorated when we bought our tree.

Tis the season for a sniffle too.

Here's a recipe for my herbal cold and flu remedy.

Medium sized knob of ginger sliced

1 lemon sliced

2 sticks of cinnamon

4 cardomom pods

5 whole cloves

6 cups of water

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Turn heat down to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, turn heat off and let steap for another 10 minutes. Store in a glass jar in the fridge and heat and serve as needed.

I have been making this recipe since I was about 19 years old. It hasn't failed me yet. 

Now we just have to keep this little rascal from yanking down ornaments.

The house smells wonderful and the ambient glow of a christmas tree in the evening makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


Now...back to that knitting!

WTF.

How is it December? How? How? How?

Well, I am just knitting my little heart out trying to finish the 2 projects I've got going.

One is taking precedence over the other right now as it needed to be finished yesterday...literally.

Eeek!

The other, not until Christmas.

Shew.

Meanwhile I added another little feature to my workspace/dressing room.

From the door the the closet was about a 14" strip of unused wall space.

I used to have pictures hanging there but moved them to another wall in anticipation of doing a project like this.

Little tip... I used chalk to make my marks for the hooks. It wipes away easily.

I bought ceiling hooks and wooden dows at the size I wanted. 

This could vary depending on where and how big a space you wanted to do this in.

I envision it holding sewing-projects-in-progress or just pretty fabric.

Here's my little helper.

Here's the finished product.

As if this wasn't accomplishment enough I made this little mobile for Iris's room.

I bought the stars back in September for her birthday and with the impending holidays I thought it would be perfect in place of the butterfly mobile we had up in the spring and summer.

I used the inner ring to an embroidery hoop to attach the stars and used some clear string I had from my jewelry making supplies to attach it to the hook in the ceiling.


Yay for progress!
I've made some headway in my mending/alterations pile as well.
I'l be revisiting the 2011 TDL soon also. 
The year is almost over.
It's time to take stock and start compiling a new list.
I may even have a resolution or two.

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

Random Things.

Last week was a little tough.
Lots of doctors appointments (for me) and consequently trying to catch up on housework.
Blogging had to take a backseat.


But the good thing that came out of it is that I realized I haven't taken very good care of myself this past year.
Between post-partum blues, sleep deprivation and indulging all my nursing-mama-cravings I also haven't exercised very much. I'M A PERSONAL TRAINER...WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
Game on!


Time to get back to what I know. Time to dust off the juicer. Time to start making MY health a priority.


I would also like to Thank everyone who visits this blog.
We sure are happy that you take the time to visit us.


Please enjoy some moments I've captured over the last couple of days...

This Iris sporting her very stylish Thanksgiving attire. The whole outfit is from the Gap except for the shoes (another wonderful hand-me-down from Aunt Nicole) and the cowl was joint effort by my mother and I. I think it looks absolutely precious.

Here she is helping me take some measurements for Aunt Danielle's pants. More on that later.

It seems the little nugget has an affinity for hiding. She can often be found under the stools navigating her way through the bars with cat-like precision.

Here's my juicy little nugget enjoying her first taste of carrot/beet/apple/cucumber juice.

She loved it. Seriously.

If this face doesn't say it all...