We have been making some little felt valentine envelopes like these: http://www.nestofposies-blog.com/2012/01/diy-valentine-envelopes-giveaway/ And filling them with some fabric hearts - can't find the pin... Just two layers of fabric with think batting inside. Cut in a heart and stitched around. We also made 6 knit skirts kind of like these - http://etcetorize.blogspot.ca/2012/11/winter-maxi-skirt.html Those turned out really cute! We made a couple of different styles and waist bands. Simple and fun! I made a little canvas picture with stripes and a button-heart (scroll down to see what I copied) http://www.cornerhouseblog.com/2012/02/valentines-mantle.html I want to make a valentine wreath and banner this weekend.

My list is almost all done! Yay me! But I still need to: Figure out dinner call mom and dad fix dinner keep on track with my eating... so far so good... but I'm going to a spouse meeting tonight and I know there will be many yummy things there. I have a plan to stick to having just one plate of food. Get everyone on picked up and dropped off where they need to be.

Thanks! It's playing now while I make my grocery list and do my online banking!

It is like -10 today, so I'm not even going to put go jogging on my list. But I'm still going to: Exercise sweep the whole house do the dishes shower and get beautified! eat breakfast track my food today Set up YNAB for Feb. budget Pay bills make a big shopping list but... go do just a mini grocery shopping Go to the library Call my parents and wish them happy anniversary! 44 years! figure out a ride to wrestling for ds 9 Can I put watch Emily Owens MD on this list if I promise to knit while watching? or maybe that's the opposite of tackling the day... Pick up Syd early from tennis to go help babysit at the base for a coffee. Don't forget! * edited when i finished something

It is legal here in SD. But doing drivers education allows students to drive sooner after getting their permit. Our car insurance also allows for parent taught drivers ed. On the other hand, kids can (and many do) drive legally at 14 years old here, so...

We like to do a simple cheese and chocolate fondue on valentines day. Even though it's just a really easy meal, it seems super special. I like to put some candles on the table, too, and have sparkling cider in the fancy glasses! We make simple mail boxes and tape them to bedroom doors in early February. Then we slip little notes into each other's mail boxes. These are very easy - made from two paper plates. Cut one in half, put them "right sides together" and staple around the half plate. Then decorate with heart stickers. I like the idea of starting new traditions. Your kids are so lucky to have you!

Monday always seems to be catch up day no matter how much I got done over the weekend. To Do: Laundry Laundry Laundry Quick bathroom clean up Return Critter Crate to Outdoor Campus Take Plaque to Trophy place Go on a walk. It's snowy but not too cold. Just go do it! Make a little valentine swag with the kids Violin practicing Track my eating, and stick to my plan! Plan something for FHE Do some knitting Thanks for the motivation!

ps - we are no longer in HI !

We live in Rapid City. What do you need to know?

You've gotten a lot of good advice about shoe shopping and starting slow.... I just want to address the running in the cold question. We live in South Dakota (I know my name says HI, but I'm just there in my dreams these days...). It is COLD here, but I prefer to run outside and I am able to run outside about 90 percent of the winter. If it's in the 20's I wear gloves (just the cheap-o stretchy knit kind work fine), and a fleece headband (it's really important that I have something tight over my ears, a regular hat doesn't keep out the wind, but a fleece headband will). If it's in the teens I will add a hat over my headband and a "neck gator". I'm not sure if that's what it's really called, but it's basically a circle of fleece that I pull over my head, and wear around my neck, like a scarf - but it doesn't need any adjusting, it just stays in place and I can pull it up over my nose and mouth if I need to. I wear a basic fleece jacket over a long sleeve shirt and sports bra. If it's in the teens I will add on a wind breaker. If it's below the teens I don't go out until later. It's rarely in the single digits for more than a few days here. I do worry about ice if we've had snow and it's melted and re-frozen - fresh snow is safer than old snow. I have found sidewalks to be particularly slippery - I usually stay and on the road and watch out. I have never fallen, but I have slipped a few times this winter. I wish I could run at about 5:30am, but it's just too dark to really watch out for ice at that time. I like having a running partner. Mostly I run with our dog, but I have a friend who joins me a couple of days a week. Good luck! wendy

I've been following your HG story and I'm sorry you have been so sick. I'm glad you are feeling better, but that nasty syrup stuff is gross! Gag! I couldn't drink carbonated drinks while pregnant, either - they gave me a terrible case of the hiccups - every time! Even when I was no longer sick, I just couldn't touch soda. I should start my own thread, but I haven't ever started a thread before... I just found out that I'm pregnant. This will be baby #5 for us, which is exciting, but I have been terribly sick with the other 4 pregnancies. I was never diagnosed as HG, but I lost at least 15 pounds/baby in the first trimester and was sick sick sick. If the pattern holds true, I have about a week and a half before I start vomiting. I'm already feeling a little queazy. Any advice on what I should do now to get ready? I know I should know this stuff, but it's been a long time. Our youngest is 9 years old and our oldest is 18... I've been thinking I should do a big shopping trip and make up some freezer meals. I've also been thinking we should tell people sooner rather than later, because I'm afraid in a couple of weeks I likely won't be able to smile or act excited, you know? I'm a little scared... Thanks! wendy

It's 4:30 and I'm still not sure about dinner. I think maybe I'll heat up some soup and set out sandwich fixin's. On the bright side: bathrooms are clean! I cleaned my room including the closet and vacuuming I went running with my college daughter and I didn't die! We got cards sent to cousins We tidied up the front room and the basement The chickens are doing fine Next up: clear off table (again) Laundry dinner sew on some patches for dh sew a skirt with college daughter ready set go wendy ps - I'm already planning tomorrow's big tree-take-down and garage clean out... I love these threads!

Mostly I want to be lazy, and since it's 9:40am and I am not dressed, I can probably cross that off my list! But I do have to do a few things: take care of the chickens go on a walk make my bed clean bathrooms track my food for the day make a hair appt. for Hannah call ortho for Hannah put on the super long Pride and Prejudice play with all the Christmas toys figure out dinner? I'll be back...

We love making things for Christmas. A couple of years ago we made a rule that each of the kids had to make something for the other kids. Our kids are 18,14, 11, and 9 - so they are old enough to work on things themselves, but still need some help. I start around Halloween finding ideas for them, then I start around Thanksgiving reminding them to start working on things. And usually around Dec. 20th they really get to work! It is so fun to see how excited they become about giving gifts. Our 14 year old was just DYING for the other kids to open her gifts - she kept trying to get me to let them open them on Christmas Eve. Here's what we made this year: John (9) made: fleece headbands for his sisters and me - these turned out so cute! a lunchbox for his dad John is pretty good with the sewing machine, but I helped steer a little. Emily (11) made: PVC pipe bows with arrows made of dowels the letter H made of buttons on a large fabric covered cork board a pillow case to match her sisters bed earrings and a necklace for me! Emily is really crafty and loves making things. She was able to use her dad's band saw to cut the dowels and pvc pipe - that was exciting. I had to help bend the pvc - that was scary. Everything else she planned and made herself. Sydney made: tied fleece blankets She made one for herself in about September and knew she was going to make them for her siblings for Christmas, but didn't actually get started on them until dec. 22. We picked out the fabric closer to Thanksgiving, but... She was the most excited about her gifts. She worked really hard to get them all done in time and wouldn't let me help at all! She was thrilled to see everyone cuddled in her blankets all day yesterday! Hannah made: Cute hair bows for her sisters a neck "gator" for her brother - a strip of fleece sown into a circle for a scarf that doesn't have ends and can be pulled up over his nose on a cold day picture frames decorated with buttons and filled with photos for her dad and i. There are just too many fun ideas on pinterest! It is fun to plan and fun to help the kids make things. Here is what I want to do for next year: photo albums holiday dresses for the girls bow ties to match for the boys a knit throw for me! Some hits from the past: stilts boxes made of wood scraps from the wood floors pvc swords pvc marshmallow guns crochet wash cloths rice filled bags for sore muscles or to warm a cold bed finger puppets small fabric purses larger fabric bags for music books hot pads pj's I have a pinterest board for gift ideas: http://pinterest.com/wbarrm/gifts/

My favorite is Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck. A sweet story of service. Makes me get all choked up!

I can cross off "log in to the new boards" now! I have been a member forever, but I tend to forget my password so I just read read read... but occasionally I want to say something... Thanks for motivating thread, Jean! Here's my list: Run Shower laundry Return craft supplies to the basement Tidy up kitchen Go to the store for: ink, photo paper Look around for an outfit? dress? to wear to a slightly dressy christmas party wendy

Wynn

Anne Jo Rae Kay

I survived Waldamort. I got almost everything on my list. I forgot tortillas. And I need tortillas for tonight. Bah. On a brighter note, the laundry is done! I have about an hour and a half to get some work done. Here's what I want to do: Unload the groc (pronounced grow-sh technical term for groceries) cut up fruit for dinner bake cookie bars figure out how to sew a fabric banner. I like these threads. Thanks Jean!

Back from walking the dog. I told myself I would just walk/jog for 20 minutes, but I felt great and went for about 35 minutes. Yay me! Then I trimmed the dog's nails. That wasn't even on the list. Next up: laundry then Walmart during lunch

I am going to go out on a walk and I mean it. And then I'm going to shower. I have a few other things that should happen - a trip to walmart - dinner in the crockpot - laundry but the most important thing is getting off this computer and going on a walk. wendy

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck. A sweet story about true giving at Christmas. I love this book! It makes me get all choked up when I read it each year to the kids. It was also made into a short movie. in case the link doesn't work: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Day-Morning-Pearl-Buck/dp/0688162673/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352567524&sr=1-1&keywords=the+gift+pearl+s+buck

Thanks for the welcome, Jean! I trimmed the dog's nails, and worked on the newsletter... I dusted and fixed a big pasta salad to go with toasted cheese for dinner. I did not vacuum or clean out my closet. Oh well! A wild afternoon of music lessons starts in about 10 minutes, and I feel pretty good about my day!

There is something about the computer that sucks me in... Here's what's on my to do list: work on newsletter make eye appt trim dog's nails make a pasta salad this morning so dinner goes better and it I do all of that then I'll consider: vacuuming dusting and tackling my closet thanks for the motivation!

Good point. Skip the jars unless you can sterilize them...