Happy 2012!

(Crocheted and gifted to my beautiful new niece born this year.

One of the highlights of my 2011)

It's a new year! Wow. The holidays sure did go quickly.

Today we went to church and celebrated Three Kings Day.

The priest reminded us that there is still one more official day left to the Christmas season.

At least I don't feel guilty for leaving our tree up! One year, I left it up until February! Okay, that was a little much, but it all goes along with my theme of the year for 2012.

We're sloooowing down. I had to cut back on the extracurricular activities my girl was involved in. We got pretty sick and rundown during Christmas vacation. All the activity caught up to us and made me realize, we have very busy days...and both me and my girl require a lot of downtime. We love being home and unwinding.

We don't need to keep up with anyone or any activity level.

I'm going to slow down this year and I'm going to savor our precious time together at home.

This year there will be more:

quiet, listening, reading, early bedtimes, movie-watching, easier healthy meals,

pajama-days or at least pj mornings, cooking/baking lessons for my girl while I'm preparing in the kitchen, drawing, painting, sculpture time, nature walks.

There will be more good old fashioned time spent together.

And that is all I want.

That, and to be a better human being, a better mother...a more devoted child of God...

living my life to the fullest in the small, simple joys of

just being alive.

Happy New Year to You All.

I'm wishing you peace, joy, and love throughout every day

of the year ahead.

Holiday Pre-Game Photo Dump

Been meaning to post for a while...but been busy. Life has been good

in that happily contented way.

Time to catch-up now.

Thanksgiving was my first as a vegan/vegetarian. It was awesome.

I had a Tofurky turkey and it was okay. Just okay.

Wouldn't do it again...especially 'cause there are so many other goodies to eat.

I am all about the sides, anyway. Next year, I'll know.

Here are some pre-holiday photos of the goodness we've been enjoying in our little corner of the world. Me and my girl both LOVE everything about preparing for Christmas, so it has

been all about holiday songs, hot chocolate, advent activities, crafting, and the like!

Our holiday kick-off: We saw the Beach Boys at the St. George Theater.

John Stamos performed with them and it was magic.

We had a ball on cold Sunday night.

Our little white Christmas tree. I always dreamed of a white tree when I was a child, now I have one. It just reminds me of sweet confections, snow, and all yummy wintry things.

I love it. So grateful to our babysitter and my daughter for putting it all together this year while I was at a class one Saturday. It looks so pretty in our living room.

A sideways photo of an advent activity calender I made for my girl.

Each day she turns over a card and there is a holiday activity we will do together.

Tonight, it's singing a Christmas carol together. Tomorrow, we'll play Uno or Scrabble Junior and the winner will get a candy cane. That kinda thing...

She's lovin' it. This was so simple and easy...and sweet to create.

Still in love with this Martha Stewart holiday letter banner I made three years ago.

It's perfect on the bookcase.

Jumped on the "cover everything in yarn" wagon that seemed to have taken place around Thanksgiving. I'm going to make a yarn covered initial for my new niece. But to warm up,

I covered an olive jar. It's cute enough.

Thinking of making a few mini jars to go next to it in other bright jewel colors.

Lastly, this was my economical teacher-gift prezzie this year. I made up four of these and they are wrapped pretty in cellophane and satin bows. Two for my daughter's classroom teachers, two for my grandmother's home health aides.

Everything was purchased at the dollar store: pretty vases, silk holiday flowers, an ornament, and peppermint candies.

I thought they were pretty festive and practical, too.

My favorite kind of gift!

How are you all preparing for the holidays?

Things left on our list: Only two more gifts for Mama to buy, a trip to the tree at Rockefeller, a trip to the American Girl store 'cause Mama promised, a meal at my favorite vegan restaurant in the E. Village, more crafting...and our favorite activity...

Baking (vegan) Gingerbread for Santa!

Can't wait!

Halloween 2011

Halloween was rather spontaneous this year. We had our costumes planned,

but did not know where we would go or who would be included

in the trick-or-treating candy parade.

Turns out it couldn't have been more perfect.

Isn't it always like that?

Little Cub, our "Spanish Flamenco Dancer" was joined by

her BFF "Princess Peach" and the rest of our neighborhood gang.

Even Daddy joined the fun!

I broke-out another homemade costume using clothes from my "vintagey-costume"

clothes bin in my closet.

Disco Zombie Mama. Although, Cub's daddy said it was more like

"Prom Zombie!" Either way, it was all good.

And Daddy got to carry her candy while I got to gab

with my mama friends while walking.

There was a delicious diner visit afterwards where lots of yummy food was enjoyed as we were all starving.

Then we ended the night with hot apple cider before dropping off Daddy at the bus stop.

It was a great little holiday.

Now looking forward to planning my first vegan Thanksgiving.

Can't wait!

Looking Ahead...

It's the time of year again...I get semi-excited for Halloween...but I'm already looking further down the road to the HOLIDAYS.

I know it's early. But I love to make handmade gifts for my loved ones and I'm already making my list.

Here is some of what I'll be making:

Crochet face-scrubbies- I'm already using them. Just whipped-up a weeks worth for myself in one night on the couch with a movie.

Planning on giving a set to a friend and a family member.

These are great for exfoliation and for toner. Think I'll gift them with an all natural face wash from Whole Foods.

I fell in love with this lovely night light project and if it is not too much trouble, just might have to make one for myself. Thinking about giving it to my brother and sis-in-law for my niece's (expected date of arrival, 10-27-11!!!!!!) nursery.

And no holiday would be complete without making something for my little girl.

She is all about her American Girl dolls this year and I know she will just love a couple of cute outfits. I'm definitely making this ensemble in her favorite color, RED with hot pink trim.

Another holiday tradition!

I've been making truffles since the my girl's first Christmas. Wow, that's almost seven years ago, now!

This year, they will be of the vegan variety.

Yuuummmm.

Thinking these for my beautiful sis-in-law as she loves chocolate.

Also, my aunt...another chocoholic in our family!

I began making this very scarf for myself last year and ran out of yarn for the fringe!

Then, I wasn't into the peacock-blue color that I chose for it!

Too bad, because I really like this pattern.

Going to splurge on some fancy yarn and make this for my aunt.

Thinking black...or a pretty pastel.

That's it for now.

I'm still trying to figure out what I'll be making for the baby.

I'm thinking a cute cardigan with matching hat and booties.

I can't wait to meet and LOVE my niece.

I am just overjoyed with the

anticipation of her arrival...

and daydreaming about all the goodies I'm going to make for her

this holiday season.

The words of my seven-year old...

When we are not laughing, eating, or adventuring together...

We are TALKING.

Me and my girl have so many amazing conversations.

Some, I want to remember forever.

Like the one we had tonight.

Here is just something she said before bed this evening.

(After I finished reading Chapter 1 of The Boxcar Children to her...)

"Mom, I know why some people don't like children.

It's because they didn't have a happy childhood.

But me, I'm reeeeallly enjoying mine.

Life is gooooood."

Mama is not surprised you said it...but Mama is so happy you feel that way, my Girl.

xoxo

Vegan Mama

I went vegan the first week in July this past summer and it has been one of the BEST

decisions I have ever made. I have seen the benefits of this way of mindful eating on every level of my being: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. For me, it is the

healthy & compassionate choice and it just makes sense.

For me.

There has been a TON of cooking and baking...but right now, here is some of what

we've been enjoying in random order.

Vegan = the most delicious, healthy meals to create and devour!

Vegan French Toast with Agave and Fresh Berries.

Vegan Lo Mein

The most scrumptious Vegan Berry Muffins, made by my Cub!

Typical Simple Summer Meal: Garbanzo Oat burger with corn on the cob.

Fresh-squeezed lemonade & a salad was also somewhere in there.

Summer Breakfast: Usually consisted of a quick bowl of some sort of organic cereal and organic berries with oat milk, rice milk, or occasionally vanilla soy milk.

Stay tuned for my post about the vegan Rosh-Hoshanna dinner I prepared tonight to take

to my aunt's apartment in the city tomorrow night.

There is usually a lot of meat there...and I wanted to make sure I had something tasty...that I could share with everyone.

I made Stuffed-Cabbage style vegan meatballs and chopped "mock" liver.

Wanted to make sweet potato kugel but I became exhausted after the third hour of cooking

after work.

Here's to good health!

xoxo

One of A Kind

I am in love with this for the following reason:

1. It was made out of melted Ring Pops, so iconic in their own rite.

2. Of course, the words go without saying. No explanation needed.

3. Reminds me that sometimes it's those little unexpected expressions of another's creativity that makes me so happy.

(Thank you, Julia Chiang, artist.)