Cosmo Cupcakes

Lime cupcakes with Cranberry Buttercream. This is strictly a *girly* cupcake according to David. Hey...that's OK, more for the girls and I.

Randomness

Well we made it to Muddy's last night after our family Valentine's Day dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant and it was worth the wait. I had a *True Love* cupcake and I was *in love* not only with the cupcake but the fact that we all four got to go enjoy cupcakes together. My heart most definitely belongs to my *three sweeties* and what better way to spend Valentine's Day than with the three of them.

Today Lindsey and I got to sneak out of the house for some Mommy, big sister time. We hit Jo-Ann and then went next door to JCP to smell all of the awesome Philosophy fragrances. Then we stopped for some shakes at Sonic, my favorite a pineapple shake (reminds me of my granny) and Lindsey tried an orange cream slush, which I might add was yummy too. Our next stop was the huge estate sale down the road from our house, lots of stuff. We had a great time just the two of us, I try to get out with just Lindsey as much as I can. It is important for her to have her big girl time with Mommy and Daddy too. Now we are seriously considering making some of my Cosmo Cupcakes, because we need more cupcakes.

New Martini Recipe

Check out the left sidebar for a new martini recipe, just in time for Valentine's Day. This is a favorite and it is *very important* that you take the time to rim the martini glass with chocolate. Just be careful of the possible chocolate smile the rim may leave behind, you may look a bit like the Joker. Although after a few of these who really cares.

Wide Awake

It is Saturday, 4am and I am wide awake. My head is spinning with ideas and things to do. Lindsey's Closet is keeping me busy these days and that is a good thing. The girls and I met some friends after school yesterday. The intended meeting spot was Muddy's Bake Shop, but we got there and they had sold out of everything. There is an event at the Racquet Club which I am assuming is keeping our favorite little bake shop busy. So we ended up and Ben & Jerry's, nothing wrong with a little scoop of *coffee coffee buzz buzz*. I had a good time chatting with my friend Jessica and Lindsey and Lexi obviously had a good time because Lindsey ended up going home with them for a sleepover. After all of these years of being suckered at the last minute for a sleepover you would think I would have an emergency sleepover bag in the back of my truck, but I don't......yet. Anyway, they don't get to see each other nearly as often as they used to so I am happy they are getting some time together. I have some pricing sheets to finish up for LC and then I plan to sew sew sew today and hopefully have a nice Valentine's Dinner with the family and maybe a little trip to Muddy's? hmmmm

Distracted

OK, so I will confess, I have been a bit distracted lately. First, I have been working a lot on Lindsey's Closet stuff, the business stuff and the creative stuff. There is still a lot to do. Second, I have been on Facebook. I have reconnected with some old friends as well as some new friends. It is really pretty cool, yet addicting. Now I have David hooked, poor guy. Anyway, I will try to post here more too or you can find me on Facebook.

Here I am

I am still re-cooping from double ear infections and sinus crud that finally caught up with me this past week. David was out of town in the middle of all this, so recovery time has been slow, (because as all of you Mom's know, we do not get sick days). David has the girls outside this afternoon since it is so nice out today; 57 degrees right now according to my little weather widget. Wish I felt like getting out and doing something. I wonder if I can bat my eyelashes at David like the girls do and see if he will cook dinner tonight??? It is worth a try.

I have a new post at Lindsey's Closet. (Yes, I am trying to come up with a *Mally twist* on the LC site too)

Peace, Love and Chocolate

When J is here anything goes...

Like the *Peace* shirt (minus the chocolate) ? They will be available at Lindsey's Closet soon (adult sizes too).

Can't sleep...

It is 3 freakin A.M. and I am wide awake. ARRRRGGGG

New Blog

I have started a separate blog to promote my monogram business. In the coming weeks I will start posting lots of pics of some new stuff I have been working on. I will also have a line of boyish items (tees, pants etc) I will step outside my *pink* world and venture in to that *blue* area. :) You can find the new blog here. I have also been on Facebook (thanks to my friend Marci), YIKES that is addicting, connecting with old and new friends, but she did encourage me to create a business page on Facebook so I did. I will also post info on that page, so look for me there as well.

Lindsey is a TERRIFIC Kid

Of course David and I already knew that, but her teacher chose her as the Terrific Kid this six weeks at school, not to mention Principal's List again. She works so hard, I am so proud of her.

*You go girl.*

We are just relaxing this weekend (or at least I am trying to, it is not something I am good at) We have a family day planned today and then Lindsey has a friend coming over for a sleepover later today.

I have been busy re-working some things about my business, I hope to fill you guys in real soon about what I have in mind. Stay tuned...

Working through some business ideas

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to grow my business more. I quit my corporate job last May in order to stay at home with the girls and also grow my monogramming business. It has taken some adjustment to being at home after working for so long, but I am determined to find a balance for things. For instance Mallory is in mother's day out two days a week, those are the days I will set aside for work, no housework or extra stuff those days, I need to be working on inventory and business realated stuff. Sure, things will come up and I will deal with them as they do. Work smarter, not harder right? I like the monogramming business I get, ( the towels, sheets, blankets etc) that get dropped off, however I want to add more things that people can actually buy, not just the service of monogramming. I got together with a friend today, who also has a home business, we were able to brainstorm through some ideas for each other. It was so great talking with another Mom who is on the same page as I am. I have realized I need to have a more focused business offering, right now I have people calling with all sorts of things from can you *make some curtains* to *can you hem pants* and while that is OK, I need to come up with a list of things that I am willing to do and stick to that. It is OK to say *No* right? I am feeling positive about some changes I am making, I know this will be a good year.

As I cook dinner...

This is what is happening in my den at this very moment. So *flippin* sweet.

Those girls have my heart, I love them to the moon and back.

We're Back

We got back last night from our trip to Ohio to visit my family. Lots of fun as usual. I am bursting with energy to get things around the house in a more simpler order. The twelve trees were taken down and put back in the attic the day after Christmas, it was nice not having to come home and face that task. David and I have always had the philosophy "don't take the old into the new year" so that means all Christmas decos have to be packed away before 1/1.

So back to that "simple order" first the house; purge unneeded and unused stuff, just get it out of here. Then onto some emotional purging, complicated friendships etc. I want to live life more simply and not worry about things that I can't control. There is nothing complicated about our lives we are just living life. I want to focus on some new friendships, get out more and have more *Jennifer time*. I have my eye on a couple of classes at U of M that I plan to register for, wow did I just say that? I have the paperwork and I *will* fill it out and drop it off.

I am off to spend the last day of winter break with David and the girls, school starts back tomorrow.

Just hangin out..

That is pretty much all we have been doing. I love not having a schedule, we play when we want,
we bake when we want, we nap when we want blah blah blah. We have been caroling with the neighbors, went and looked at Christmas lights (I have some amazing pictures of that, we found a house whose lights were set to music, much like the movie Deck the Halls, so cool) We finished our Gingerbread house yesterday.

It is funny how much Lindsey's decorating has evolved over the years, when she was younger the more icing and candy the better, now simpler is better. She must be picking that up from David and I. Funny.

I am 99.9% finished with my Christmas shopping, I only leave a margin of error because I am sure I will have forgotten something. I don't think so but anyhoo.

I hear *creatures stirring* downstairs, better go see who's up.

Hooray!

Today begins the first day of Lindsey's winter break. I have finished up my monogramming orders and will not be taking any last minute ones so that the girls and I can spend some good quality time together. We have gingerbread houses to decorate, cookies and other sweet treats to bake and whatever else we decide we want to do. We have a cookie swap to attend on Monday, which will be lots of fun too.

I plan to post as much as possible so you can see what we are getting into around here Mom (wish you were here). I am also trying to keep up with my December Daily Journal. I have taken the pics but they have not made it to the journal yet, hopefully I can get caught up on that as well. What are you all up to these last few days before Christmas?

Twelve trees

As promised, here they are. I finally remembered to take a picture of the tree on the front porch after dark.

1. Master Bedroom Tree
2. Lindsey's Room
3. Mallory's Room
4. The Girl's Bathroom
5. Memphis Tiger Tree in Guest Bedroom
6. Dining Room Tree - All of our family ornaments we have collected over the last 11 years.
7. Santa Tree in the Entry Way/Living Room
8. Family Room Tree
9. Feather Tree #1 on Mantel
10. Feather Tree # 2 on Mantel
11. Wall Tree in Master Bathroom Window
12. Front Porch

I know, I know that is a lot of trees, but oh well. We like putting them up. :)

She did it...

Wednesday, Lindsey went to have her 10 inch ponytail cut off to donate to Beautiful Lengths. She has been growing her hair out since 1st grade (two years) and decided in 2nd grade that she would donate it once she got to 10 inches. She told me back during the summer she hoped it would be long enough to donate by December. I have never seen her so excited about cutting her hair, she has such a big heart, always so thoughtful and giving. I think she picked the perfect time of the year to do such a fabulous thing.

Tara had to get out the BIG scissors, Lindsey has my super thick hair, which I got from my Mom.

right after she cut it off.

Here is Lindsey with Tara of Studio Stacy Salon. Miss Tara ROCKS!!!
I am pretty sure Tara gave Lindsey her first haircut. Tara has been cutting David's hair since he moved to Memphis back in the 80s. She is so talented, always does a fantastic job. Such a great lady!

I love Lindsey's new *do*, very grown-up.

These could have been lost memories

But because I am at home now, they are not. They are tucked away with all of the other fabulous memories I have.

Mallory is getting her baby ready for a nap:

then goes into the den and falls asleep on the fold out floor chair

*Sweet little angel*

I'm Ready...sort of

I am pretty much finished with decorating for Christmas, a few minor things left and that is it. I spent Saturday and Sunday putting up the decos, yes I put up twelve trees again ( I will post pics this year). Last year I made these advent boxes for the girls to count down the days until Christmas. I hung them on the wall last year but after a small mishap with the poster putty I was forbidden to put them back on the wall, so this is what I came up with:




I think it looks much better than the display last year, what do you think?


Off to finish up the Christmas cards, yeah baby. Now if I could get that excited about shopping I would be all set.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a fabulous day.