My Favorite Things

Next time you're at the store grab a bag of these!
 Hershey's Pieces!!!
With Almonds!

When my mom was here to help our family through the birth and subsequent adjustment of Theo, she bought me a bag of these.  They are my new favorite.

I have to let myself only buy 1 bag a month, and make it last.  Otherwise I could double my weight in these quickly.

On the other hand I tell mysef, "Hey it's almonds.  They're so good for you!"

So, because they are packed with protein, (wink wink) and also delicious....
You should try some!

The End

Homemade Gifts

This year for Christmas I really wanted to make some homemade gifts for the kids.  Last year I was given a nice new sewing machine that actually works!  I thought this would be a good time to use it!  I came up with some great ideas, and they were all a huge hit!  So, in this post, I want to brag about myself for a bit:)

Hair Accessory Board

 My friend Brenda has her own business in which she makes the cutest hair clips and bows.  She is willing to come over and do a 'party' at your house.  All the guests get to come, pay a very small amount and make clips and bows.  She is a very good teacher.  I've gone to two of these instructional parties, and made several really cute hair clips for Lily.  I also bought some that Brenda had there on hand.

As Christmas got closer I made this awesome hair clip board.  Once again, I got great ideas from Brenda one how to do it.  I found this cute picture frame at Ross, and got the fabric and ribbon at Joanne's Fabrics.
I found some quilt batting in one of my old sewing project boxes. 

I used the card board that came in the frame, and put the glass away to use for something else.  I covered the cardboard with batting then the fabric.  The fabric came over the edge about a 1/2 inch. I used a stapler to hold it all down.  I then criss-crossed the ribbon, weaving it in and out then stapling the edges.  I then had fun clipping all the cute new hair bows onto the 'Hair Accessory Board.'  I wrapped it in a large shirt or robe box.

Lily LOVES it.  It now hangs in her bathroom.

Flannel Heating Pads
Many years ago, for Christmas, my mother in law made and gave me a heating pad filled with rice.  I really loved it till I burned a hole in it one day by cooking it in the microwave too long.  Lily is close to having to deal with cramps (that's what I loved using my heating pad for the most), and Maxwell gets really bad growing pains in his legs.  Glenn is always cold, and Harrison likes to sleep with a stuffed animal.  Joanne's Fabric had a 75% off Cotton Flannel sale a month before Christmas.  You have to use 100% cotton for this project in order for it to be safe in the microwave. 

I used a 1/4 yard for each heating pad.  I folded each piece, right sides together, then sewed a straight line across the bottom and up the opposite side of the folded side.  I left the top open.  I then divided it into 4 equal part and sewed straight lines almost to the top to make compartments for equal distribution of the rice.

Next I filled one compartment at a time with about 1 1/2 cups of uncooked white rice.  (I bought a 25 lb. bag from Costco to use for this project.)  After each compartment was filled, I would fold in the top, open edges, and sew across the top.  The key was to do one compartment at a time.  I ended up making a total of 7 heating pads for my 4 older kids, my two nephews, and Lily's friend.

They have been a huge hit!  Each heating pad cost about $2 to make, and have been more than worth it.  I know that my nephews use theirs every night.  My kids also use theirs nightly, and sometimes during the day.   Jason has joked about why we bothered to get them anything else.

Monarch of the Glen

"I'm more of a highlander than you'll ever be."

Are you ready for another GOOD TV show to watch?  Well, it only airs in the UK, so you will have to watch it on Netflix (instant stream), or buy the DVDs.  (My husband knows that it would be a dream gift for him to get the whole series for me on DVD because I LOVE it.)  I was introduced to this show by my sister Brooke a few years ago.  It has now become a show our whole extended family loves!

The show is "Monarch of the Glen"  It is filmed and takes place in Scotland.  It is a great and very clean show (my 11 year old daughter loves watching it with me) with great characters, and beautiful scenery.  

Hector, Molly, Duncan, Archie, Lexie, Golly

The basic story is about the MacDonald Family, who live in Glenbogle Castle.  The father and Patriarch Hector is the Laird over all of Glenbogle, but really wants his son, Archie to move back from London to take over the Laird's responsibilities.  There is a small staff on the estate, and great characters in the village. 

Lexie - (takes away Hector's plate) "Enjoy that did you Hector?"

Hector - "It smells of wet dog."

Lexie - "And I love you too."

One of my favorite characters is Hector's best friend, and the wealthy neighbor, Kilwillie. I have loved this character for years without knowing who played him.  Last year when "Downton Abbey" won the Emmy for Best Mini Series or TV movie I was REALLY excited and surprised to see 'Kilwillie' accept the award!  He wrote Downton Abbey!  So I had to IMDB him and found that he also has won an Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay of "Gosford Park." (Definately worth seeing as well!)  He has done many things that I love, and I never knew it!  He also wrote "The Young Victoria."  Are you kidding me?  This guy is so talented!  Recently he won the Golden Globe for Best Mini Series or TV movie - Downton Abbey.  Now whenever we see him accept an award, our family exclaims, "It's Kilwillie!"

 

 So Check it out!  I can't wait to hear what all my friends and readers think of this great show!

Duncan - "And he agrees I don't belong here.  Reckons I should move to Glasgow, find myself."

Lexie - "What if you're not there when you get there?"