How to make a Terrarium

Step 1: Know a guy who knows how.

Step 2: Have him show you how.

Step 3: Display in your home and take all credit.

I've been wanting to learn how to make a terrarium for quite some time. My brother-in-law, Michael, works at a glass studio. Last time he was in town, he brought all the tools and showed me know. It's a dangerous job: the glass is sharp, and the chemicals used are poisonous, and metals are melting at high temperatures... but it was all worth it.

Thanks again, Mr. Glass, aka Samuel L. Jackson, aka Michael.

Cooking and A Verb List.

Lately, June has been our helper in the kitchen. She'll add strawberries to smoothies, stir the cookie dough, maybe even take out every single bottle and condiment in our fridge.

I want to teach her and a bunch of tiny cooks how to make kid-friendly recipes... how fun would that be?! Obviously, my goal for June is to eventually have a love for cooking, to the point where she'll want to do ALL the cooking.

Here's to my little sous chef.

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Reading: 'The Happiness Project' by Gretchin Rubin (finally), and I just decided to re-read the Hobbit. I really really loved the movie. Especially Martin Freeman as Bilbo. Speaking of Martin...
Watching: Sherlock on Netflix. I NEVER use the term "fangirl", but I think I'm fangirling over that show. I'm obsessed. I love it. I'm watching it again. In fact, I don't know why I'm doing this post knowing that I could be watching it right now.
Eating: A Costco muffin the size of my head.
Pondering: "If they were to remake the movie 'Overboard', who would be the perfect lead actors?" No really, Daphne, it's still on my mind. No one can replace Goldie.
Listening to: Neil Young, 'On the Beach'... just because it's been really cold lately.

Thursday

On cloudy days, I get headaches. Without fail. 

Luckily, cloudy days magically become quiet days around here.

Every once in a while, I catch myself actually getting something done without interruption. Then I look to see June lining up her Toy Story figures, stacking blocks, or pushing her baby doll around. I think we've reached a new era where June has actually learned to play on her own. 

On the other hand, sometimes she's dumping her toys everywhere, pulling all the laundry out of the baskets, or rolling out the toilet paper.

It's a good thing she's so darn cute.

Twenty-Thirteen

I'm trying not to feel too overwhelmed with my resolutions this year. There's so much I want to do and accomplish. Lists make me nervous, especially those days I feel unmotivated... but here goes nothing.

This year, the focus is HOME. It's hard not to focus on this in the first place, since I'm a stay-at-home mom anyway. Nevertheless, I know there is so much good in our home, but so much that can change and be better. I need to be the one to step it up.

·I want to make my home more organized and less cluttered.
·I want to be happy with how it looks, and not focus too much on what I wish I could change about it.
·I want to make our side yard useful (playing, gardening).
·I want to be in the kitchen more, trying new recipes, and making more wholesome lunches (homemade lunches do not happen as often as I'd like).
·I want to make more homemade desserts, and eat less candy
·I want homemade pizza to be a weekly meal.
·I want to play more music and turn off the TV.
·I want to read more to myself and to June.
·I want to develop a better morning and bedtime routines, at least for the weekdays. I can already tell June thrives on routines.

There's so much more, but I need to stop myself because I feel my nerves tightening. I'm really looking forward to a great year.

P.S. We partied with the Porters on New Year's Eve, and of course it didn't disappoint. In fact, I suspect that's why I was sick all of New Year's Day. I guess the best parties take everything out of you. Anyway, while I was wallowing in "sicky self-pity", I received this video documenting the party, and of course my gloomy demeanor turned to udder delight. June and I watched this video all morning:
NEW YEARS EVE from David Nuttall on Vimeo.

June was so happy to see a dance floor that night... You better believe I plan on having one at her birthday party in March.