Wordless Wednesday: Reagan's favorite Game

Snow: Then and Now

I am constantly amazed by the experiences Reagan has as she grows up. Playing in the snow is no doubt one that I have seen a big change in as she gets older. The first time she went in the snow she was just a little over a year old. She was interested in looking at it, but when it came to sitting in it or playing in it she was down right terrified (not like the Santa Clause issue though). Unfortunately, we did not play in the snow last year. It was just too cold, and on the days it was warm enough for her to play she was sick. Yes, it was a rough winter for us all.

This past week after begging and pleading I finally took her out. Immediately she plopped down and made a snow angel and threw the snow in the air. Which, she learned from the ever so annoying Max & Ruby show, and oddly enough she can LEARN from that show. She went sledding down the dip in our backyard, helped mommy shovel and jumped in the piles of removed snow from the driveway. The difference a couple years make is just amazing. She is going to be SO ticked when we can't go out tomorrow

because it's too cold!

For some comparison here are pictures from when she was 1

And this is from this week!

Handmade giveaways: Raggedy Ann

Okay, time to let you in on a little secret about me. Ready for this one? I LOVE LOVE LOVE Raggedy Ann and Andy. I have been collecting the dolls since I was young with my Mom (who has since passed). We have one special Raggedy Ann that started it all, Annie Bananie. I handmade doll given to my mom in college from one of her friends. No coincidence my daughter loves Annie just as much as I did. It is a tradition I hope to carry on with her.

So you can imagine the joy on my face when I saw this Raggedy and Andy giveaway! It is a 13 inch Raggedy Ann and Andy Valentine's Day lamp. For more details you can pop on over to Willowtree Treasures blog. This giveaway runs thru January 28th. Be sure to check out her shop on Etsy as well, for other finds for your home!

Wordless Wednesday

Get a head start: All I wanted for Christmas giveaway

So you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas? The fruitcake is now a door stop, you have a closet full of things to "regift", your MIL proved to you again that she'll never understand your tastes. Well I am here to direct you to Happily Blendid to solve your problems. She is going to start an after Christmas giveaway blitz and you can earn 10 extra entries for every giveaway before it even begins!! Yeah isn't that the coolest news of 2010 thus far?

Pretty simple too, just pop on over to her blog and snag her button to post on your blog for 5 entries. Then spread the news to your readers in a blog post and receive another 5 entries! 3, 2, 1 GO!! (click links or button!)

Amazing Recipe Blog

I have been browsing through her stuff and she has some amazing recipes. At first I was super excited because there were lots of desserts (you know me I love to bake!) but that was just for the holidays. But the two things I have made from her blog are delicious. So I think you all need to go check out Fake Ginger.

The first thing I made was Pumpkin Caramel Coffee Cake. I love pumpkin, I love sweets what could go wrong. There were a lot of steps but it was definitely worth it. As noted in the recipe spreading the batter the 2nd time was more challenging, but i used an icing knife and it went okay. I shared this with my bff and he said it was a keeper. I don't let family judge, because they don't like sweets.

Then this morning I made Vanilla Spice Oatmeal. I like oatmeal and I am trying to get on the eating healthy bandwagon. I don't like raisins though so I skipped those, and I was too lazy to do the walnut thing (and I can do without those calores: comparable worth) But it was very easy to make and is delicious. It just sweet enough, not overpowering. Now if I would have used the splenda brown sugar I am sure it'd be a bit better, but oh well beats eating the coffee cake for breakfast like I did yesterday.

I think you must be convinced now to check out her blog and read about her. I was excited to see she is my age and a SAHM, so i think it's totally sweet she loves to cook, don't find that often most people my age are eating ramen and sofa pizza. Be sure to check out the other food blogs she loves. I have already snagged another recipe from one of those!

So it's 2010, what will it bring?

To be honest what I am looking forward to the absolute most about 2010 is the Midterm Election. Yes *beware* the following will be a short political rant. I am by no means afraid to discuss politics (hello it's my life) but I think there is a time and a place. So if you don't want to read it then you can skip past this red section and onto my other 2010 plans. Whether, I agree with the party in power or not I love election season. It's the time I become so engulfed by the constant news cycle and every development that it's unbearable for some. By Thanksgiving I have to go back to watching crappy mtv reality shows to give my brain a break. Trust me this year will be interesting to watch unfold, hopefully there will be some movers and shakers emerging (Hello Rubio). Over the past year America has been transformed and there are numerous people not happy with the projected outcome, and they will be silent no more.

Okay well enough of that before I lose my 4 followers I have. My other big goal is to lose at least 30 lbs. I plan to achieve this through healthy eating and exercise. In order to keep on track I am pledging to run/walk/bike at least 400 miles this year. Yes, that is a lot but it is a goal that will keep me working out all year long. A great motivator is the vast wardrobe of clothes I have in my closet that no longer fit properly. I am just dying fit in them again, and it will be like getting a bunch of no clothes all over.

Aside from that I absolutely must find a job. Which means I must finish my resume this week and start looking. I am leaning towards a campaign but I am afraid to commit to that time commitment being a single parent and all. So we'll just have to see what it brings, I am sure it is out there waiting for me. Secondly, I need to decide if/when I am going to grad school and what I am doing. I am still heavily drawn towards counter terrorism, and learning Arabic. With, the latest developments of underpants bomb guy it is just another tally on the reasons I think I should do it. It is a field that needs a lot of attention and is not going away anytime soon. Whether, combatting International terrorism or domestic terrorism I think it is a field that would enjoy. Much like campaigns you have to be on the ball with new information, the adrenaline of that makes for an interesting, informative and growing career.