My New Year's Resolution

At the close of 2010, I am trying to decide what 'realistic' New Year's resolution I would like to set for myself. Every year, I seem to set my sights too high, only to be disappointed at the results. This year, I decided to set a goal for our family. It just seems like, right now, everything I do revolves around the health and happiness of my family. There is a time and a season for everything, and right now, that time and season is my family.

So......for Christmas, my mom gave me this:

Have you heard of it?

I have to admit, I started sweating a little when I unwrapped it. Pressure. Oh, the pressure to improve something I know I am lacking in.

With a family that has a crazy schedule, football games, baseball games, sports practices, a self- employed hubby who works some crazy hours and likes to go to the gym after work, piano lessons, dance lessons, gymnastics, after school stuff, etc., etc.......who has time to SIT down at a regular time every night at the dinner table and have a civilized, organized, well prepared family dinner? I admit, I TRY. I do make a healthy dinner every night. But it's usually me doing all the work, and eating up at the island/bar. Sometimes we watch the news, too. And hubby nowhere in sight. AND it often ends with a child crying because he/she doesn't like what's for dinner, one child pretending it's comedy hour at the dinner table, and TONS of left-overs because noone will eat. And a very frustrated mom. Phew.

Soooooo.........for the last few days, I've been reading this book. And lo and behold, it's fabulous. It's inspiring. Full of ideas. Full of inspiration and positive thoughts. Rules of thumb for a sucessful dinner experience. Great recipes to try. Beautiful pictures. And LOTS of reasons why to keep trying to instigate family dinner. Oh, and there is even a helpful website to go along with it.....here

This is my New Year's Resolution. Family Dinner. At least 4 times a week. Children HELPING. Making new recipes. Trying new things. Making a weekly menu, putting it up where everyone can see it. Turning the TV off. Having meaningful conversation. Now, I need to work on a cute place to write the menu and job/meal chart. I have the perfect place to hang it. :)

Hold on to your meatballs. It could be a bumpy ride.

my one obsession

OK, that's a lie. I have MANY obsessions....chocolate, Glee, little eiffel tours....to name a few. But recently, I have to say, I am OBSESSED with cute, unique trays and platters. I love to find unique trays to display in my home. I love melamine, I love ceramic, I love earthenware, I love glass. There is no end to my tray loving obsession. And I just recently purchased THIS cutie over at Pottery Barn. Who can resist the blues and greens and hello???? ROBIN EGGS?!! I swept this up as fast as I could, rushed it home, and found the nearest easil. And I have thoroughly enjoyed it. It's so hard to find a holiday platter that ISN'T in the shape of a snowman or nutcracker (not that I don't enjoy those too.....)

I have had so much fun browsing Target, Crate and Barrel, and Williams Sonoma for my new obsession...look what I found, the butterfly and Home Sweet Home are two of my fav's and they are from Target (never lets me down!) and in melamine, another new obsession.

Check out the cardinal platter (from etsy.com) and the black and white platter (also etsy). Did you know you can have your family silhouette placed on a platter at etsy.com as well? The gold platter and red and green mosaic are from Target. The Party Etiquette is from Williams Sonoma. Cute as can be. So unique.... This one is also from Target, and more mainstream for the holidays:

not that I don't still love these:

to gift, or not to gift?

Teacher gifts........ hmmmmm.......

I have to say, I'm not too creative in this department. I've had this conversation recently with my girlfriends...."what do you give a teacher for Christmas?" Do you give something he/she can use in the classroom? Do you give something they have to haul home with 100 other presents? Or do you give something easily consumed in the day? Like a baked goody? Or maybe a gift card to be used on whatever their heart desires? OR do you just stick with a homemade card from your child?

I have to say, when school let out for the summer last year, we gave each teacher a personalized notebook, stationary, notepad, etc....and they raved about them. It's something with their name on it that they can use in the classroom to send notes home or write reminders to students. Etsy.com is FULL of these cute custom notepads. I got mine from the sweetlifepaper shop on etsy, you should browse the cool ideas!

This year we did your basic anti-bac soap and hand sanitizer in holiday scents from good ol' Bath and Body Works.....but I think there are better ideas out there, and I want you to share them with me!