10 in 10

Better late than never. As promised...10 in 10.

Procrastinator's Unite! You know you've got a to-do list somewhere just BEGGING for attention!

I am posting my list of 10 things and giving myself 10 days to get them done. I will post a Linky for anyone to join in the list making fun...and will post another at the end of 10 days for a recap. Even if not a single one of you links up, I'll be here, holding down the fort and getting it done!

My 10 in 10...
1. Get photos up on the living room walls.
2. Get art up in our room.
3. Get the boys moved to their new room.
4. Finish kids headboards.
5. Make sea salt caramels
6. Make taffy with the boys.
7. Finish kids art display project.
8. Try Freezer Paper stenciling.
9. Reorganize Kitchen Cabinets
10. Get my hair done.

Lots of little things, couple of big things...and the last one, is for me. I have a hard time making myself take a minute to do something for me. Maybe adding it to my list will help! LOL!

Link up if you're up to the challenge! 10 in 10 girls...come on! You can do it!

Hello Health, Week 1!

I am taking part in a weekly "Hello Health Party" over at "Along the Way with K&J!"

It's just an exercise in accountablity on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I've been needing to do this for sometime, and figure nows as good a time as any!

Days I have worked out this week: NONE (LOL! This is my first time doing this, so next week I will hopefully have a better answer!)

Minutes per day I worked out: N/A

Health Find/Tip of the Week: I have been trying to portion out things like chips into individual serving size bags when I bring them home from the grocery store. Keeps me from sitting down with a bag of Doritos and polishing off half the bag! It's hard to find time, sometimes, but I just need to keep MAKING time. Gotta make it a priority, I guess!

Health Question of the week...Any workout DVD's you LOVE?: I love my "Pilates for Every Body", but I sadly don't use it any more. I have 10 Minute Trainer and P90X to try too, though, so once I give those a go, I'll get back to you. :)

Pounds lost this week/so far: Again, since this is my first time linking up, I haven't lost anything...but I took my starting weight and my GOAL is to lose a total of "27.6" pounds over the next several months. Wish me luck!!

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Now more on why and how I'm doing this.

Winter is on it's way. I cook a lot of "comfort food" type foods in the Winter...yummy! (Shephard's Pie tonight in fact!) And, due to my LOATHING of cold weather, I don't go outside much and therefore am not very active. So I NEED to get this situation under control before the snow flies!

Honestly, I don't have a lot of time to devote to working out. I love to take walks, but am so swamped with kids and my day job and my photography and LIFE, that I don't have time to do it. But I need to. I need to walk, or even just spend a good half an hour cleaning vigourously or something. I am looking for an elliptical but haven't found a good deal as of it. Until then, I've got to just "MAKE" a cardio workout, even if it's raking leaves or dancing around with my boys. I've got to do something.

I want to be healthy, and I want a healthy family. We LOVE food (me, especially) so I need to preach portion control and wise choices. It's a work-in-progress, for sure...but we'll get there. :)

So, I will be posting and linking up every Monday for as long as Katie keeps her Linky Party going, just to keep myself accountable, whether I had a good week or a bad week. If anyone is interested, stop on by her blog and link up yourself!

Remember...10 in 10 starts tonight! (I should've done it yesterday...10 in 10 for 10/10/10...whoa. Ha!)

Back later!

It's All About the Benji, Baby...

Benji update! Our sweet little 6lb 4oz peanut, is now a whopping 14.6lb OX, who is an absolute JOY!

Some photos...for fun!

Paper Mama Photo Challenge

I am entering the "Paper Mama" photo challenge...this week is "Mama and Me" photos. (It doesn't have to be taken BY me...but has to be OF me.)

So I am entering me and my buddy, Benji (taken by Benji's daddy, Adam)...he loves laying in there all snuggled up next to momma. And I think it's as calming for me (to know he's comfy and content) as it is for him (to be held and loved). Our Moby wrap makes our hearts happy!



Check out more adorable "mama and me" pics over at The Paper Mama blog!!

Ooooo Boy!!!

Does anyone remember last year around this time there was a "10 in 10" party out there in blog-land. It was a linky party for people on a mission to complete 10 projects on their too long to-do lists in 10 days. I gave it a go...here's my original post on it: http://motoxmomma.blogspot.com/2009/10/add.html

Sooooooooo...linky party or not, I'm doing it again this year. I seem to work better under pressure! LOL!

If anyone shows interest I can set up a linky party...but either way, I'm doing it...starting this coming Monday I think is my plan. Linky party anyone?? ANYONE?!?! (Bueller? Bueller???)

Sorry...it's been a long day already. I think I'm getting delusional.

10 in 10 this Monday folks...watch for it!

Project: Cookie Monster - Week 1

I tried this once before and failed miserably, but if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Right? Right!

I am embarking on a personal project to make a different cookie recipe every week for a year! How fun to have a cookie jar full of delicious cookies (and what a great way to add recipes to my arsenal)! My kids have named our experiment: PROJECT COOKIE MONSTER :)

We started off tonight...it was Mikey's week to help...with, quite literally, the BEST chocolate chip cookie I've EVER had. I am not exaggerating folks. These are perfect. They are soft all the way through...amazing flavor...just dense enough...ahhh...cookie bliss!

I started off with this base recipe: here.

I altered it though, per recommendations of reviewers on AllRecipes, and to fit our own personal tastes.

Without further ado...the one and only chocolate chip cookie recipe I will ever use for as long as I shall live. LOL!
BEST ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 stick salted butter
1/2 stick (1/2 cup) butter flavored Crisco shortening
1 (3.5 oz. box) vanilla instant pudding mix
2 eggs
1 and a half tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
2 and a quarter c. all-purpose flour
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Partially melt butter.
3. Cream butter, shortening and sugars together.



4. Add pudding mix and eggs.
5. Incorporate flour and baking soda...mix well.
6. Fold in chocolate chips.



7. Place by rounded tablespoon full onto cookie sheet. (These cookies shouldn't spread much so fill up your cookie sheet!)
8. Bake 10 minutes at 375...as soon as you start to see light brown on the edges, take them out. Remove to rack (or, like I did, a brown paper bag) to cool.



9. Enjoy the heck out of the best cookie you've ever had!

I am linking Project Cookie Monster up at the DIY Show Off Project Parade! Check them out: here for a TON of great projects!

And also at Skip to My Lou. Check the great stuff out here:

And at Tatertots and Jello! Go HERE...quick!

Stop back next week for Project Cookie Monster - Week 2...I think we're going with an Oreo knock-off! Yummy!

More Moby

I seriously cannot say enough good things about this. I hate that I never took the opportunity to "babywear" with my other boys...I've had my Moby for three days and it's been an amazing thing thus far!

Just wanted to share some more pics of me with my boy...he can be SO fussy and calms right down when placed in the cradle hold in the Moby. New moms...you must try it!!



Hands Free!!! I chopped veggies for our dinner today while wearing my buddy...




Comfy for me and for him...