Breastfeeding Nazi?

On a completely non-weight loss related topic I need to express my opinions, thoughts and feelings about something that has really irked me for days now.


Saturday evening we went over to friends' place for a (not-always) monthly get together with 3 other couples. One of these couples just recently had a baby and is in the 4 week post-partum stage, she is still unsure of many things and also seems upset about her decision to formula feed rather than breast-feed. In this group I am the only one who chose to breast-feed and I am very proud, and even a little arrogant about this fact. I cannot believe how quickly people give up on breast feeding and am even more annoyed by others who go on and on about how it's just as good to FF. BUT this isn't what is what is seriously bothering about the evenings conversation...it is the use of the term "breastfeeding nazi". I have been guilty of using this term in the past but after giving it a lot of thought I realized using this term is just not appropriate. The Nazi's tortured, persecuted and murdered millions of people. People who who work in hospitals and who have jobs to encourage new mothers to breastfeed are not related in the least to this type of behaviour. Perhaps people who strongly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding may make some new moms feel overwhelmed but all they are doing is trying to make these women realize that breast is best and even if you do have initial problems nursing your baby these will diminish with time and persistance. The term Nazi can only be associated with negativity and has absolutely nothing positive about it. Breastfeeding and feeling that bf is best can only be positive and those who believe in it strongly should be called mothers who want best for their babies not Nazi's

The Wall

I feel as though I've hit a wall and I just can't get around it. I am SOOO tired and feel like sleeping more than doing anything else these days. This eating healthy thing and exercising is supposed to give me energy and make me feel great...so what is wrong?!?!
I was so tired last week that I didn't get on my elliptical at all. Finally on Monday night I'd had enough of being lazy so I hopped on that darn machine for 75 minutes! I had the best workout ever but I have only been back on it for 35 minutes last night- had set it for 55 minutes but my little boy started screaming and crying in his sleep I jumped off to see what was wrong and never got back on-in fact I never made it downstairs again- went to bed at 9:30 (well lay in bed and read my book- finished it finally) He had to pee and was scared of the dark washroom and got tangled up in his pullup so he needed help...after this ordeal he went right back to bed and didn't make a peep for the rest of the night.
This past weigh-in I only lost .4 pounds. I was dissappointed but not surprised! This small loss has motivated me to keep to the program a little more closely if nothing else! I really want to reach my 5% weight loss goal by the beginning of March...that would be a total of 8 pounds lost at that point...and I can't imagine ever reaching my 10% goal of 16 pounds lost!! and my final goal...well i won't even think about that now! I know i will get there but boy does it feel like an impossible dream at this very moment!

This seems to have become my weight loss blog rather than my working mommy, busy lifestyle, trying to do everything at once blog...but that is okay. Whatever keeps me motivated these days. I have been trying to keep to the tracking as best I can and I do exercise more than I had been for years but this week was not the best one! I only got that elliptical once this week but I did a good 60 minutes before collapsing of exhaustion!
I did manage to lose another 1.6 pounds at my last weigh-in. Not bad! This brings my total weight loss for the month to 6 pounds. I am hoping to meet my %5 goal by the beginning of March- another 2 pounds to achieve that!
I am hoping to come up with some new interesting meal ideas as I am getting sort of bored with my daily salad for lunch (although it does get me to eat my 5 servings of vegetables a day) and it does get me to my weight loss goals. Evenings are really hard and late evenings are the hardest so I need to come up with something to do other than sit in front of the TV and eat!!

an old love comes back in the picture

I suddenly remember why i used to love exercising! Many years ago, before kids, before marriage and before I had even met my hubby I used to spend hours a day at the gym. I just loved it, working out was fun, it was something to do and it gave me such a high...then marriage, kids and other responsibilities got in the way and going to they gym became such a chore. Now I no longer go to a gym as I really don't have the time to travel there and back but I have been working out at home and I really enjoy it. Really. It is so much fun and I love to challenge myself. Each day I try to up the speed a little or increase my time on the elliptical just a few minutes. Last night I set it for 30 minutes and watched The Biggest Loser while exercising. I then continued the exercise as the show wasn't over, before I realized it it was 50 minutes on the machine! I was zonked out and really happy that my legs weren't feeling the burn at that point (although I did feel it this morning while walking the 15 minutes from my car to the office)
I just have to get my ass off the couch and get on the elliptical more than 2-3 times per week! I can't use the I'm too tired excuse too often or else my old habits will resume and i'll get out of the exercising regimine again.
BTW- i'm now down 5 pounds since Jan 4!!! whoot whoot! only another 30 to go!!

Week Three Weigh In

I was much happier this week with my weight loss results. My Monday weigh-in resulted in proof that I lost 2.8 pounds last week. I attribute this to a few factors, first I started taking the stairs up to my 5th floor office each morning, second, I cut out my double double coffee, and lastly i have been making much smarter food choices each day. I no longer buy food at the food court. I had been doing the mall food court 1-2 times per week but now I always brown bag it. I can control what and how much I'm eating much easier that way. I bring a huge salad with me almost every day, then I throw in a cup of chickpeas, 1/2 a chicken breast or a can of flavoured tuna. It is a complete meal-so healthy and yummy too. I do mix it up a little by changing the dressings or using spinach instead of salad greens. On the days I don't do the salad thing I like to bring home made soup (always vegetarian-sometimes barley, sometimes cabbage) and a hard boiled egg along with a big container of raw veg- i was eating TONNES of baby carrots but now i've been bringing cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and peppers- so easy and filling too!
One thing that really helps is cutting up a bunch of vegi's on Sunday evening and just refilling my container each day-saves me time in the morning- and ensures i get in the vegi's i need.
I have really been watching how much fruit i eat. Fruits are healthy but they do have calaries and therefore higher points value than vegetables. Instead of an apple, banana AND an orange, i just eat one fruit a day-usually at morning break.
I am slowly getting in the habit of tracking dinner too. this is something I have been having trouble with but I usually have a pretty good idea of how much i've had during the day in order not to go over too much...and there is always activity points earned to help balance out any over eating!

hair dilema

My hair has been looking kind of shaggy these days...this pic actually acurately describes how I look these days.

This is me a couple of years ago (and boy i can't believe how i've aged since this was taken!!!)

Here is a picture of some hair i really admire...i've posted this before...i like the look but am also thinking i really like my hair longer ( i find longer hair more managable as I dont' HAVE to style is as much as shorter, trendy hair)

My dream hair... how many years would this take to grow? or how much would this cost to get extensions????

results:week one

Not as much a weight loss as I would have hoped for. I expected my first week to blast me from 22 points a day downt o 20 or even lower....well no such luck. My weight loss for the week was only .6 pounds. I really hoped for at least 1 pound weight loss! But what can I do now? Only work harder and work out more diligently this week.
I also know where I went wrong...here are a few things I learned during my first week.

First- look BEFORE you leap!! I had a few surprises after eating/drinking something and then checking the points value. My beloved double double coffee equals a whopping 4 points!! Who knew that double cream and double sugar pumps up the calarie and fat intake of coffee from 0 to 275 calories and 12 grams of fat!! YUCKYYYY. I have been able to stop drinking DD but not given up coffee altogether. I have replaced the cream with milk and use it towards my dairy servings for the day. The calories are now down to 150 and 2 grams of fat. Not bad.(but not as tastey!!!)
TRY not to eat after dinner. This is big one for me. I used to find that after getting the kids to bed and doing a few chores around the house I craved something...so i would sit and eat chocolate chips out of the bag, crackers or pita bread with hummos...unlimited quantities and right before bed too. Now I just keep myself occupied and keep a glass of water in my hand. If I'm really craving something I'll have a few craisons or a glass of diet pop. So far I haven't seen the results in weight loss but I think it will happen eventually. I also wake up feeling hungry which I think is a good thing.
EAT BREAKFAST. I'm finding that eating a decent breakfast like oatmeal made with milk or a high fibre cereal is much more satisfying that toast with butter or peanut butter. It keeps me full for longer and I don't crave an early morning snack at 8 or 9 am. (i usually eat breakfast at 6:30/45)
I've taken the "challenge yourself" part of the program to heart. Each morning I have been trying to take the stairs at work. My office is on the 5th floor so I am huffing and puffing by the time I get there but hope after a few more weeks my stamina will have improved greatly! I also think about working out and actually do it. I was waking at 5am to do my 45 minute elliptical training before work but found after 3 weeks that I just couldn't do it anymore so now I get on that machine at 9pm and "just do it!!" Watching shows like the Biggest Loser and X-Weighted while working out really helps the motivation factor!!

Week One, day One

I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting last night. I decided on a whim to join and I just called up the 1-800#, pulled out my credit card and paid for 6 months then and there. The woman on the phone kind of giggled when i told her I was planning on going to the meetings starting the next day- guess with it being New Years and all they have been getting more registrants...
Anyway the meeting was ok. I'm not sure the leader is the kind of inspiration I need but I'm going to stick to it regardless. She has been on maintnance for 18 months- which means that she reached her goal weight loss and has kept it off for 18 months. I would be more motivated by her if she'd said she kept it off for 18 years...but maybe i'm just asking too much. BUT even if the leader herself wasn't the most inspiring I did learn a few things from other members that will be useful in my overall new eating habits (or in slowing changing my eating habits- can't expect things to change over night)
So far it's been about 3 hours and I have been doing okay....not long but a start. No more double double coffee for me (boohoo- but not worth it) and no more tea biscuits or cookies as midmornig snack, these carrots i'm munching on are pretty tastey and they ARE really filling- really!

I did skip my 5am workout and am thinking I might have to rearrange my schedule because I'm just SOOO tired in the mornings PLUS my daughter is such a light sleeper that often when I walk past her room to get downstairs she wakes up and hubs isn't too happy about having to entertain her at 5am while I go workout. I'll figure something out.

I was going to keep my WW journey private but I'm hoping that by blogging about it I'll be motivated to keep it up. As FP noted in a recent post, it is like you are now accountable to someone and when people are watching you tend to be on your best behaviour.
Starting weight... 160.4 Ultimate goal: 135

Resolution or not...that is the question!

I think i have given up on new years resolutions. They never seem to work out and then I feel bad about myself for not obtaining my goals. This year I want things to be different. I want to make serious changes in my life but the thought of actually making a list of resolutions seems kind of useless/futile. Maybe i'll just keep certain things in mind before I speak/act/eat and the changed I hope to make will become second nature...

My quest for the skinny...

not my quest to GET skinny but the search for skinny jeans that look good, are comfortable and won't break the bank...maybe I'm asking for too much!! I have been looking at my boots that I LOVE so much I think, what a shame they are covered up by my big boot legged jeans. AND on a more practical note, the bottom of my jeans always get wet in the snow so skinny jeans would just work better...
now i have tried on my fair share of these jeans. they NEVER seems to look quite right, they are just too tight in the mid-section and I feel so confined, then they make my butt look huge-sure i know I'm carrying around a lot of extra junk in my trunk but these jeans just exaggerate this to no end! UGH!!
i have no idea how so many women/girls are wearing these jeans and seem comfortable and look good in them ( well maybe not all of them look good but they're wearing them and don't seem to be tugging and pulling at them like i have done whenever I try them on )
I found some articles on "how to wear skinny jeans" and from what I gather...i should just stick to my boot cut or flare leg jeans and live with wet cuffs on my jeans!!

welcome to winter

My health has been totally crap these days. I have been coughing non-stop since November 23rd...and nothing seems to help. Since I'm coughing so much my neck has pulled muscles and it is so hard to move. I feel like all I do is complain- i don't even like my own company these days...poor hubby has been putting up with a lot these days!! The anti-biotics i'm taking are so strong they are making me vomit at least 2-3 times a day...just to add insult to injury!!
At least when I got in to see my own doctor she put me on meds...the walk in clinic doctor I went to a week prior told me to drink hot tea and apply heat for my neck WTF?!?!
how can that be considered pracitising medicine? I don't even think he checked my lungs and breathing...
anyway i am taking it easy, using up loads of sick time and hopefully on my way to recovery!!!

the wonders of Honey and Cinnamon

I recently received these tips in my email inbox. I thought I'd share- and am planning on trying several of them. Anything to get rid of this nasty cold I have and I'm at the point that I'd do anything to lose this baby weight- she's 18 months old already for goodness sakes...no need to be carrying around these extra 20+ pounds still!!

Cinnamon and Honey
For what it's worth.

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey.. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing".. When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.
Cinnamon and Honey
Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around.
Facts on Honey and Cinnamon: It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured.. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root. GAS: According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ' Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu..
LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.
PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.
SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS: Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water.. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.
FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week.
BAD BREATH: People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day. HEARING LOSS: Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

cookie club

For the past 3 years I have taken part in a cookie exchange. I had wanted to try something different and last year I made honey spice cookies. They were very pretty, star shaped spice cookies but the icing was supposed to bake along with the cookie- it just didn't come out right, This year I decided to go back to what I know i'm good at. I made Apricot Chocolate Chip Cookies and Chocolate Cashew Shortbread Cookies.

Both are really yummy and pretty easy to boot.

Here are the recipes,( no pictures though...they are all packaged up and in the freezer so I don't nibble at them)


Chocolate Cashew Shortbread Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2/3 cup icing sugar
½ tsp vanilla
1 ¾ cup flour
¼ cup cornstarch
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup chopped cashews

In large bowl beat butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. In medium bowl mix together flour and cornstarch. Stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, and cashews. Form into rounds of about 1 tablespoon, flatten slightly to about ½ inch thickness. Bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes, just until lightly browned at edges. Store in plastic container or cookie tin. Makes about 36.


Apricot Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 ½ cup flour
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons margarine/butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Sift together flour, baking soda and salt, set aside. Cream butter. Add sugar and mix thoroughly. Add egg and vanilla; blend well. Add sifted ingredients.
Cut apricots into pieces with scissors, and add to batter along with chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350F. for about 10 minute. Allow to cool partially before removing from baking sheets. Makes about 3 ½ dozen.

annoyed

i am not sure what i'm doing here...the pics i post are always lined up straight in the preview but when they get posted they are all over the place...argh!!! any suggestions?

a few things...

I am in need of a face lift!! Both figuratively and literally! I feel like i have been looking pretty drab these days- a new hair cut wouldn't do it and I actually wear makeup daily (although I'm not sure anyone can even tell-even myself!!)

anyway here a few things I think would make me feel pretty...oh so pretty (all from Sephora)

Color Play Palette II

tarte treasure chest

complete shock

I just popped over to thestar.com to catch up on the news, when this article caught my attention. I am in complete shock (no pun intended) and cannot believe this officer is not being reprimanded for his actions.
How can a grown man, who is armed with a gun and taser not have enough physical strength to calm the girl down without using a taser....
just wondering what ya'll think of what happened here?

Barefoot

I haven't been reading as much as I would like these days. Work, family and lack of energy contribute to my VERY sedintary lifestyle these days. BUT I recently made a trip to the local library and picked up a few books to read. The first one I chose to read was Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand.
This is a story of three women who travel together to a beach cottage in Nantucket for the summer, each carrying their own set of troubles and baggage. First is Vicky who recently diagnosed with lung cancer needs a distraction while undergoing chemo, then is her sister Brenda who is young, attractive and recently fired from her job as a professor for having an affair with one of her students, then Vicky's best friend Melanie who found out she was pregnant after months of trying with the husband who has been cheating on her.
They meet Josh a young college student who takes the job of babysitting Vicky's kids all summer while dealing with his own secrets and struggles of growing up.
This book is definitely one I'd recommend, and I'd also suggest keeping a box of tissue close by because I certainly shed a few tears while reading!!

and now for a personal beef...

we went out with a large group last night...only 4 people of which we know or are actually friends with. The evening started out with a fun activity of "trampolining" and then dinner afterwards.
Some friends had been to this place before for a birthday party and decided it would be fun for the parents too. It was. Once I overcame my inhibitions and started getting into it I had a great time.
Then dinner happened. The group decided on some Italian restaurant- so that was problem number one for me. I really don't like Italian food, I have a really hard time deciding on what to eat and then whatever I do order is never to my satisfaction. In my opinion ordering pasta seems like such a waste of money as I can likely make the same thing at home for 1/5th the price. But that is not really the problem I am annoyed about..the problem is the plague of the large group and paying the bill.
I knew we should have asked for separate bills upon ordering our meals when a few of the couples ordered wine, salad, appetisers and dessert afterwards. We just had our basic meals. When the bill arrived we payed our portion, which was approximately $35. One of the members of the party suggested splitting the bill equally among everyone, this would have been $55 per couple. In my opinion and in the opinion of our close friends (who happened to be the couple we were sitting next to) this was completely ridiculous and unfair to those who didn't order all the "extras".
This has always been a beef of mine. Splitting the bill equally among a group when some have obviously ordered much more than others just seems completely wrong- especially when this plan was not discussed ahead of time. Some in the party were obviously annoyed that I refused to split the bill equally but I really didn't care and didn't want to be bullied into paying twice what I actually owed.
I actually was so annoyed by this whole matter that I left the restaurant without bothering to say good-bye to anyone other than my "real" friends. I figured that I had never met the others before and likely would never see them again so let them think I am a bitch :)

Now that i have this off my chest I feel much better...I also want the hear what you all think of this type of situation.

lest we forgot

Lest we forget ...
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still bravely singing, flyScarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset grow,Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:To you from failing hands we throwThe torch; be yours to hold it high.If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
Dec 8, 1915 John McCrae

taken from

http://www.mun.ca/marcomm/remember/

craftin' crazyness!

My little guy was off sick with me for 2 days. Friday afternoon I knew he was really sick as the moment we got in the car to go grocery shopping he fell fast asleep. I drive to Timmy's and got myself a coffee before taking him home to bed. That day I really didn't mind that he watched about 4 hours of TV. He really had no energy to do anything else.

Over the weekend he seemed fine. He did have a snotty, runny nose and a slight cough but we were certain he was on the mend. No more fever and a lot more energy. Monday morning his cough seemed to have gotten worse and he didn't want to get out of bed in the morning (although he rarely gets up on his own these days- our 5 am riser has now taken to sleeping in till 7 or 8 if we let him- this type of behaivour isn't supposed to happen till teenage years-or so i thought!!) We decided to play it safe and keep him home again. I took him to the doctor- who said it's just a cold and he's fine.

So what does one do with a 3 year old all day? I didn't want him watching too much TV (a couple of hours was the limit). So off to Walmart we went in search of activity ideas, I got paint and popcicle sticks, construction paper and activity books galore... i am hoping to build up my "rainy/sick day" box so that we never have to spend hours bored in front of the TV again!
I used to silently make fun of the moms I knew who had "craft chests" and piles of "activities" around the house...I thought they were overly "keen" and thought the kids did enough of that stuff at school...so who needed it at home too. Boy do I owe them apologies!! Having crafting stuff at home can be a real saviour. We were able to spend about 2 hours sitting at the table painting popcicle stick and making picture frames for daddy! Another decent chunk of time was spent making pictures with paint and markers. phew...thank goodness for Walmart being close by (although i'm pretty sure I could have bought some of the stuff at the dollar store too-for a lot cheaper!!)

The final pictures! Notice the circles which look just like a guitar...well that is what they are supposed to be!! I was pretty impressed!


Some of the goods!

another angle.