Hello new year

So with all this time off over the holidays you would think that I could post more than one thing to the blog...but no, instead I seem to be absorbed in life at home with no schedule and quite frankly have forgotten about the blog (shhh don't tell). But to catch you up let me tell you what I have been doing...

First; soup, soup and more soup. It's that time of year. I love to make soup. There is just no substitute for a great bowl of soup and a nice slice of bread on the side. My latest was this Southwestern Soup that is on the cover of Southern Living this month. I saw the magazine while standing in line at Lowe's (been living there lately) and it just had to be made for dinner.

Been reading the creative family - lots of interesting thoughts and ideas for raising children in a creative environment. Having more fun with less toys...aahhh, love this idea. After the blissful madness of Christmas I am faced with more plastic and more junk. Some is inevitable and by no means do I believe that all plastic toys are junk, but I know my kids have a lot...a really really lot and I feel at times that I am fighting an endless battle to try and instill values and a sense of appreciation for what my boys have. The author of the book is Amanda Blake Soule...in addition to her book she has a lovely blog soule mama that is worth checking out.

And I would not be Andria if I didn't do some baking. I have made the famous molasses cookies, a raisin puff cookie and these soft lemon sugar cookies...

After our bellies are full of soup and bread and cookies John and I retire to the living room to read for the half hour that the boys give us before tubby time. They head to the basement for some really bad evening television probably involving a square sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea and we get 30 minutes of peace - it's a trade off I'm willing to make. Anyway, this was under the Christmas Tree for me and I am salivating over each and every page...

And with design on my mind...www.rugman.com was a rather dangerous discovery. My sister in law turned me on to this website. Real Persian hand knotted rugs. I've bought two already and I'm eyeing up a third for my kitchen.

Last but not least...it is the new year and I do believe in resolutions. I believe in resolutions anytime of the year~all the times of the year, so why not January 1 too? For me January is a wonderful time to start fresh and set some goals. All my decorations get put away which inevitably leads to some cleaning and reorganizing and throwing away. It's a time for taxes (or at least thinking about taxes), a time for settling last years business and money and starting fresh. I have a list of resolutions/ideas/thoughts/goals and one is to concentrate on living a bit greener and being more conscious of what "living green" really means. I don't think I'm horribly behind the eight ball here...I mean...my parents were green before green was cool so I have a foundation...I just want to work on it a little, maybe put in some flooring and maybe walls? I'm hoping this book can help to spark some thoughts. And because the fate of resolutions is often grim I propose that I make Tuesdays Green Tuesdays. I will post a green thought for the week...this will help keep me accountable and maybe help spread the word a bit? Stay tuned for my first green post tomorrow! Okay, so I think you're caught up. Sigh. Welcome 2009 - here I come!