Well Hello Normal

Today, was the first day back for school. (Hence the painting from the wall downtown of a school of fish) Which meant some really early get up times. I must say I am more of a night owl than an early bird. Not to mention it was 16 degrees when I drove Bella to school. Holy cow! Thank goodness Minnie the Mini fits in the garage and has fab heated seats.

I can proudly say I have made it through day 5 of the Eat In Month Challenge. Tonight, I made the Mandarin Chicken Apron meal idea from Publix. It was pretty easy and tasted pretty good. (Forgot the camera)! I am excited about going and getting the $5 Dinner Cookbook this week. I love her blog and hope she has some easy, inexpensive recipe ideas. I must say we had a lot of spices, but had none of the ones for the meal. Now we do, so when I see a dish on Rachel Ray I can consider it.

So, how are your New Year's Resolutions going?

Back to Normal

Our holiday vacation is finally over. :-( I enjoy having someone here with me every day other than the furries. All though they are loveable, I have not been able to get the to carry on a conversation.

Eat In Month Challenge is going to be very difficult. Forgot we had to run out today and where behind in meals so Bella had to have take out. Hubby doesn't like carrying his lunch to work, so the only one still in is me. Which is what I figured. It is a great challenge, but may prove to be impossible. I will be happy with just a drastic cut down in dining out. Tuesday night we are having the Apron Meal Idea from Publix. Never go on Monday when you are hungry. :-) Bella has decided it looked good and she is willing to try it. I hope to have that and something pretty to share with you!

Happy Day 4 of 2010.

Welcome New Year!

This year started with a challenge from my blog friend Diana. So far day 1 was a check! Here was the brunch I fixed myself and hubby - little artchic prefers scrambled eggs.

We have a lot of eggs I forgot about in the garage fridge so I made this tasty little omelet. Last Christmas Walgreen's had a great deal on little kitchen appliances. So I grabbed this omelet maker, not wanting to spend a lot on it in case I did not like it. Well, I must say it makes a pretty good little omelet and when it no longer works will be replaced with a nicer one. (This one was only $5.)

I started my list and decided I probably will continue to add to it. It has the basics: eat healthier, save money, get more exercise and so forth. I will share the rest as I go along. I am still trying very hard to kick the crud. I do not like being under the weather!

So now I am off to slowly de-holiday-ize the house. Next stop the fireplaces. It may take me all week, since I am trying not to over do. That and I start making some flowers I want to finish. :-) Happy Day 2 of 2010!

Final 2009 Post

As the final hours of the day start to tick down, I will take this time to list my dreams for 2010 in my swell new journal book I got this week at Salon 864. - Becca has some of the coolest things in town!  I always love a good little book to jot my thoughts down in. I figure if they are in there, then maybe I won't forget what I thought would be a fab idea for 2010.

The rest of the day will be spent relaxing in my new comfy slippers, hanging with the little artchic painting our nails and reading my new magazine. Artchic hubby has errands! He is getting us dinner and a movie. YES - my final dining out experience for one month -due to my challenge. Oh which reminds, I forgot to get my menu planned. Funny how the computer and tv make us forget what we were going to do.

I wish all of you a safe and Happy New Year. We are not even leaving the comforts of home - bronchitis has us hanging with the furries. But hey ~ nothing beats being warm in your comfy shoes, painted nails and pearls ~ watching and listening to what ever we want ~ and not having to tip your waiter or drive home. Cheers and happy wishes for 2010. I will have a list for January 1, 2010 and it will be post #90!!

End of the Year and a New Challenge

Finally, 2009 is coming to a close. I would love to say I am really sad the year flew by so quick, but like most people I am ready for it to be done.  Being in Freelance Advertising is always an up and down battle, but this year was more down than up. I am ready for a fresh start and for some new opportunities to open up. Instead of looking back on what I did or did not do last year, I am going to look forward. Tomorrow, I will be posting my resolutions and what my dreams for 2010 are. What are yours?

Here is the first thing that will be new for us come January 1, 2010. My blog friend, Diana is having a great challenge - The Eat In Month Challenge! I am pretty excited about this for a couple of reasons -
#1 - I would like for us to start eating healthy
#2 - To save money (Yes, I know, I too thought it grew on trees)
#3 - Eating out is a challenge with a food allergic child
#4 - Just getting tired of the same places

I know this is going to be a tough challenge. Hubby are you on board? He likes to go out for lunch when he is at work. Not to mention I do love my McD's for a McMuffin. But, I can make them at home.  I did have to ask if we got a gift card for Christmas to a restaurant does that count? Now don't run out tomorrow and buy 30. :-) I'll let you know what she says. Better go check the pantry and get my Hungry Girl Cookbooks out and plan some meals.

Happy New Year's Eve Eve.

$5 Dinner Cookbook

I so want to win a copy of this book. I love her blog and hope in 2010 to use more of the recipes and cut our food budget way down. I am not really a fan of cooking and really enjoy taking the guess work out of it. If it where up to Bella and I we would eat frozen pizza and pasta every meal. But this year I really want to eat healthier and get on a real exercise plan. Nothing drastic just enough to make a difference for me. Hope you had a wonderful holiday. I will be uploading some of the fun we had later. Off to work on a new blog header that will be shown this week. Happy end of 2009!

It's time!

The year has flown by so fast. I know we are in a way happy since the economy has been so bad. But in a way we are rushing time. I do look forward to a new and fresh start with 2010.

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog. I am so glad to have all of you as my blog world friends. I am amazed at how we can connect with people we might otherwise never know. I have friends everywhere and I feel very blessed for that.

I am 14 posts away from 100. Whoohoo!! Maybe a few days I will have double the posting. I was hoping for a giveaway on New Years.

So what are your big plans for the holiday? Any traditions you do every year?

The Artchics wish you and yours a Happy Christmas and a Merry Holiday!!!