Happy New Year - SWDB

Please join in with us over at....

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window...Cold. Bright Sunshine. Clear blue sky.

I'm thinking...about using this planner to help me better manage my home & my time:

via (where you can find a free/blank/printable template)

I'm thankful ... for a fantastic year long celebration of 25 years of marriage to my best friend. Yesterday we enjoyed our last hurrah in that regard by taking the family to a nice  old restaurant:

- and - I'm also thankful for ... the past week and a half where we were free to do almost nothing (key word here) that we normally do :) 

I'm creating ... still working on the quilt that was supposed to be a Christmas present for my son - which is now slated to be a birthday present instead. 

I'm wondering...Do you know what is black and white and green all over??

*

*

*

*

*

Answer: 

For the tutorial to make your own, click HERE

From the learning rooms... I really want to learn how to make the newspaper gift bags above. It doesn't look too difficult. 

I'm reading ...

 Well - actually, I'm just waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

The following caption introduced me to it and motivated me to begin 2012 by placing this children's story/fairy tale at the top of my reading list.

When we read this book , there’s this character that puts on her “habit.” A little hand here pats my shoulder and asks, “What’s a habit?” The amaryllis on the sill, it’s swelling in hope. And I tell Shalom this: a habit is something that is worn. She flickers recognition, nods, turns back to the page. She waits for me to read the next line. I’m sort of struck: A habit is what we wear. A habit is the way we wear our days. Wear new habits and your life gets a makeover. Consistently do things at the same time everyday and find yourself a new person.

via

&

"The theme is as old as the fairy tales, and it is written with a haunting beauty of wording and atmosphere . . . A book to cherish, to read again and again and again." (The Saturday Review )

via Amazon.com

I am looking forward to ... getting back into a routine of sorts.  The fact that I'm actually feeling kinda ready for this is one indicator of how restful our Christmas staycation has been!   :) 

Around the house ... is where I plan to spend most of the day - tho' I think we're gonna head out later for a hike.

I am pondering ... 

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Sally Edwards

& 

... I'm considering some things I might like to do for the first time in 2012.

In the kitchen...is where we cooked lobstah for the first time evah on Friday evening :) Note to self:  Do not name them before you boil them :/

One of my favorite things...

A few plans for the rest of the week ... Deep cleaning

Here is a picture for a thought I am sharing...