January Projects

Not really anything exciting to post today; the job searching is slow going -- not really getting any call backs at this point. It could be that a lot of companies are reassessing where they themselves are at, and what they will do next in these crazy economic times. It's discouraging for us, but we're trying to stay positive.

A big change in life can sometimes bring about a "bend in the road" that was never an option before .... you never know! I think if we had a little more in savings to fall back on, I would even be excited about the possibilities! (At least for today, I am a little too distracted with making sure we make it through the here and now.) Hubby and I are talking about all options available to us. I wonder what the next bend in the road will be?

In the meantime, I am using that organizational kick we all get in January to work on this...

...reorganizing the Christmas decorations. It's a bit of a mess now, but it will be in "apple pie order" soon. When Christmas rolls around again, I'll be glad I did this now. Do you find that most of your indoor projects get done in January and February? Mine sure do!

Speaking of projects, here's a little something the Sweet Girl did for some of her cousins.

 

Aren't they cute? We got the idea from here.

So what projects are you working on?

Words to Live By

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, 
for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  
it is the time for home. 

                                                             ~Edith Sitwell

I Heart Silhouettes

Just a quick post; I'm off visiting and having fun with a couple of my sisters today.

:::

Hey, is it too early to mention Valentine's Day? Well, I saw these wonderful Valentine silhouette garlands over at No Fuss Fabulous, and just had to share...

 

Love these! ♥ Pop on over there and get the easy-peasy instructions, and some cute ideas for displaying them. You can download the garland files here and here. Enjoy.

February and silhouettes just go together! I think it was all the Lincoln and Washington  silhouettes I did in February, back in elementary school. Do you remember doing that?

Raspberry Coffee Cake

 

Love this recipe. I've made it several times. Yummy!  3 points for a serving, people! Can I get an amen?

This low fat treat is perfect for a holiday breakfast, when company's visiting, or a brunch. Enjoy!

 

 

Raspberry Coffee Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup reduced-fat plain yogurt (vanilla will work, too)

2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 cup unsweetened fresh or frozen raspberries*

 

Glaze**

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon fat-free milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine the egg, yogurt, butter and vanilla; add to dry ingredients just until moistened. Spoon 2/3 of the batter into an 8 inch round baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Combine the brown sugar and raspberries; sprinkle over batter. Spoon remaining batter over the top. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched and is golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. In a small bowl, combine the glaze ingredients. Drizzle over coffee cake. Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield: 8 servings.

 

*if you use frozen raspberries, do not thaw them before using.

**I'm leaving the recipe just as it's written to keep the point count intact, but you may find you want more glaze than the recipe calls for. In that case, throw caution to the wind and double or even triple the glaze ingredients...

 

picture credit:  Light and Tasty [renamed Healthy Cooking] magazine, Oct/Nov 2001, p.7; recipe: Merle Shapter

New Year's Cookie Treat

Here's a little something I brought to a recent New Year's Eve party; thought I'd share it with you. (I've been too busy with the "F" words to post this before now... but maybe you can save it for next year.) Everyone thought I was so Martha that night.

(Hah! As if...) ☺

This was an idea from one of my *very* favorite blogs out there, No Fuss Fabulous. I just loooove "big impact/little-to-no-effort/frugal" projects! Here's what you'll need:

☻  Cookies (store-bought or homemade), on the large size. We used snickerdoodles.

☻  Paper CD sleeves

☻  Glue dots

☻  Printable tags from No Fuss Fabulous, cut out

 

Cut out your tags. Put the cookie in the sleeve. Take your tag and glue dot it to a corner. Done. Easy peasy! This idea could probably be adapted for other holidays. Got any ideas?

Words to Live By

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank. 
We are going to put words on them ourselves. 
The book is called Opportunity
and its first chapter is New Year's Day. 

~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009!

We had a lot of fun for New Year's -- "F" was the letter of the day -- food, family, friends, fun, football...and fatigue! LOL  Hope your holiday was great, too. Best wishes in the new year!