Farewell & Goodbye 2011. {HELLO } 2012

Sailing, D and I love sailing. Since I currently can't fly we left from NYC and sailed down the east coast  to the Caribbean.  Amazing trip even with the rough seas and poor weather that we encountered. We enjoyed all the stops and LOVED the cruise line that we went with this time.  We were VIP passengers and were treated like royalty.  Can't wait to go again in the spring!

{Sailing up the Hudson}

{Midnight Sunset tini}

{the morning moon overlooking New Jersey}

{the Hudson's morning sunrise}

{good morning lady liberty}

{I heart. NYC}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                   

{The adoption is completed. Welcome home baby girl!}

{Another failed attempt to a family picture}

{Happy New Year from Church Street}

After our trip, we ((WELCOMED)) home our baby girl, Gemma Jam!  She was the missing ingredient in our family sammich!  Then came Santa and New Years.  Now we are planning and prepping for {2012}!  We are setting goals and making lists to complete. 

What do you have planned for 2012?

Winter Wreath: & the HOW to

Winter Wreath multipurpose if you will.  This will carry our home through the longest season we have in Vermont. 

Things you'll need: 10" foam wreath, Yarn, Felt, ribbon, hot glue gun  +  patience if you're like me and feeling under the weather.

Wrap foam wreath with yarn to completely cover the white or green form.

Print a snowflake template. Cut and trace onto stiff felt.
(I cut many and in different sizes)

I made many felt flowers to adorn  to the wreath for a bit of color

 

Let the clueing begin

The combo is super cute!

Just add a ribbon and place on your wreath hook.  I just love this!!

{HEE's} Got her Groove BACK!

Finally. I'm feeling alive again.  I've lost the feeling of emptiness, sorrow, shame, and anger. & for that I'm very thankful.  I hit a very dark place a few months back and was so far gone that I thought I may never be myself again.  I am and I'm SO happy about that!

& With my groove came my craftiness! 
Craft #1: Rehab hot pink wooden rose wreath from Christmas Tree Shoppe.  
Wreath: $4.00
Spray Paint: Free husband's work bench :)
Spider Ribbon: $1.00

$5.00 Project that looked fantastic on our front door!

 Craft #2: Spray painted pumpkins

 

Halloween was SO much fun!  I loved decorating the shelves in our living room.  Since I'm behind I'm starting to work on our Christmas decor.  Can't wait... but I need a warm day to open the windows to start spray painting... Oy!  I hope I get at least 1 more nice one!

SO GOOD To Me

Life IS good.

God gives us all blessings. I'm blessed. Even on my darkest of days, he takes care of me and for that I'm thankful.

In the words of Dara MacLean, (on SO many levels) He's SO good to me.

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows. Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud And the sky of the sky of a tree called life; Which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide. And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart. I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart. ~E.E. Cummings

I'm living life one day at a time knowing that things will work out the way they are meant to be.

<3DE<3HE<3

Awesome Kitchen Find and Tip

This week has been AWESOME and it's only Tuesday.

I start a purchasing "chef approved" Wusthof knives from William Sonoma for Cap. I thought it was the perfect gift to give over the years. When the set is complete, Cap will have a set used by ALOT of chefs in the cooking industry. But AWESOMELY enough last week, I was browsing the clearance section at TJ Maxx and saw a box set of Wusthof knives This was a 5 piece set that was originally marked $279, that's the Maxx price. If I was to purchase this set at WS I would have spent nearly $410. There were on clearance for $199. I skipped the purchase last week and wanted to sleep on the idea.
I went back Sunday they were marked down again

$139! That's right 5 knives for $139. That's cheaper than I paid for his paring knife for Christmas. I snatched them right up! Happy Cooking Cap! I love you <3


What do you do with your left over pasta sauce? Are you like my family and always have Spaghetti jars stacking up on the top shelf of your cold chest?

I'm freezing the leftovers in ice cube trays. Once frozen I'm popping the cubes into freezer bags and taking them out as needed for lunches :) Simply brilliant! & Thanks to Cap's fellow coworker Jes, I'm taking care of those jars! Say goodbye to the cold chest clutter and hello to lunch time portion control!

Simple. Clutter free. Labels front facing. I love my kitchen!

Heritage Festival.

Last week was our Heritage Festival in town. A week filled with music, activities for kids and lost of food. Cap and I could only participate in the festivities on Saturday morning. Sadly, this happened last year too.

Cap pulled 19,023 pound truck with the Governor. Yup, the Governor of Vermont. He wasn't a wimp and he gave it his all! Even the Governor's security detail participated in the pull. See I told you they were working hard on pulling that truck....50 feet!
Cap (he's the only in the white and black shirt that reads "Dominic is numero uno" with the Governor and his security detail along with the other city councilors Pull#2 with all members of the city government :)Doesn't Cap look fierce! The city group came in #2 out of nine teams. Not bad at all!

People of all ages were downtown enjoying everything that was going on. And big news, the Quarry is almost ready to open! I'm delighted that will be a restaurant with outdoor seating in downtown.



I finished up my day before heading to work by watching the Heritage Parade. I loved the bagpipes!
I love Southern Living! I found a SUPER fantastic beet salad recipe in the may issue. Here are my beets marinating :)And after this past week I'm just as tired as he is! I love my little boy!