Merry Christmas!

Our tree this year.  I love it in this corner of our living room and I'm 99% sure this is where we'll have it each year.

Every year Pat and I go to the tree farm on the hunt for the perfect tree to cut down.  We found this one pretty quickly this year and it might be my favorite tree so far.  There aren't quite enough lights on it for me as we had some strings that were out and we decided not to replace them this year since we plan on buying LED lights after Christmas.  So more lights for next year!

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Homemade Vanilla

It was almost a year ago that I knew I'd be making homemade vanilla extract for this Christmas.  That's a long time to wait!

I had originally saved this blog post to go by, but ended up mostly following this one.  I bought the vanilla beans at Olive Nation and they were AMAZING.  Excellent prices, fast shipping and plump awesome vanilla beans.  I will definitely purchase from them the next time I make vanilla!

I basically cut the vanilla beans into a 'V' shape and dropped them into a fifth of vodka.  I bought fairly cheap vodka as everything I read said it didn't matter at all.  After I was done I just put them in my cupboard for a few months and then bottled them up!  I made two fifths of extract, so I have enough to last me and my gift recipients quite a while!

Here are some pictures of the process:















I was amazed how quickly the vodka turned brown.  It smells heavenly!

I wrapped a ribbon around the bottle and attached a label to them.  I think they look pretty cute!

Lighted glass block Christmas presents

A few weeks ago I went to a craft fair with my sister and fell in love with these lighted Christmas presents made out of glass blocks.  However, I'm kind of cheap and didn't love the price tag.  Always being up for a challenge, I decided to make one for myself. 

I'm overall pretty happy with how this turned out.  However, I really need some practice making bows! 

Cupcake ornaments

These are only iPhone pictures, so they're not the best.  I'll try to get some better shots soon of these adorable (if I do say so myself) cupcake ornaments I made this weekend.  I can't wait to make more and send them off to some special people!

Christmas Crafts

It might be a little early, but I am totally in the mood for Christmas.  I have big plans for decorating this year and a lot of it involves being crafty!

I came across a picture of a glass ornament covered in glass jewels in my favorite site, Pinterest, and knew I could make them.

I picked up some glass ornaments at the craft store, got out my glue gun and set to work!  

Overall I'm happy how it came out and I'll likely make a couple more.  However, this is not an ornament for a weak tree branch and the little silver topper isn't very sturdy so I think having these on a shelf is safer!

In the background of the second picture you can partially see another Christmas craft I'm working on!

You're not a dog!

How many of us automatically think about food when we think about celebrations?  Need to celebrate something?  Go out to dinner!  Miss your friends?  Meet them for happy hour.  So much of our lives revolve around food.  It's normal, obviously we need to eat.  However, I know I need to remind myself every now and then that food should not be a reward.  If I could only get it through my skull that food should only be looked at as fuel for your body instead of something to take pleasure in dieting would be a lot easier.

I've been back on the treadmill this week, Monday and Tuesday so far.  It has been easier with the time change so it's not pitch black out at 6am now.

There may also be talk of another get together with my internet friends next year with a race as the focal point and I'd like to be able to participate in the 5k if it happens.  Even if it doesn't happen, it's a good goal to work towards.  I certainly know I could walk a 5k, but it would be great if I could actually jog/run it.  We'll see!

Off the wagon

In all honesty, I've been very terrible about exercising since the Boston trip.  For the past two and a half weeks I haven't exercised at all.  It has been a combination of a cold, a busy Halloween schedule and being lazy.  Really there isn't any valid excuse.

The good news is that I haven't gained any weight back.  I am down 12.2 pounds, but I know I need to get back on the treadmill if I want to see any more off (which I do).

In the effort of full disclosure, I'm putting it out there.  Trying to hold myself accountable to the internet world.  Sometimes you just need that extra kick in the pants to get back on track.