Penguins Are So Cute

 

I usually send a letter or card

once a week to my daughter at school.

Usually with a little something tucked inside,

enough for a coffee,

and often a cute little comic to make her smile

or an interesting little article.

This week I took some time and made this cute little penguin card.

Since she doesn't have any snow where she is

I thought she would enjoy the "Let It Snow" theme.

Every time I see the little penguin it makes me smile!

I hope it makes her smile too :)

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

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Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

 

These Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are so good they're bad.

You just can't stop at one!

 

 

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 large eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups raisins

 

Preheat oven to 350F.

Lightly grease or line with parchment paper cookie sheets.

Cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.

Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt.

Add oats and raisins and mix.

Drop by tsp. onto cookie sheets, about 2-inches apart.

Bake 11-13 minutes until golden, but still moist beneath cracks on top.

Cool approximately 2 minutes on sheets

and then remove and finish cooling on wire racks.

 

Enjoy!

 

 ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

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The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Saturday, January 25, 2014

Outside my window...

 

I am thinking... Of how time goes by so quickly!  Really, there is only one week left in January!

I am thankful for... Our warm and cozy home.

From the kitchen...
~Sunday: Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Buns, Gravy, Broccoli, Corn, Salad, Jelly Roll
~Monday: Spicy Beef Stir-Fry, Rice, Asian Salad
~Tuesday: Oregano Chicken w/Sweet Peppers, Rice, Carrots, Salad
~Wednesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread, Oven Baked Zucchini, Cesar Salad
~Thursday: Mushroom Pork Chops (crockpot), Perogies, Peas, Cauliflower, Salad
~Friday:  Lemon Pepper Salmon, Herbed Pasta, Broccoli, Salad
~Saturday: Leftover Smorg

I am wearing... Black sweatpants and a black & white shirt.

 

I am creating... Scrapbook pages, cards, painting a picture and x-stitching

I am reading... Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr

I am praying for... Family & Friends

Pondering these words... Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros~

 

I am still hoping... To get over this bug that has been plaguing me since the beginning of January.

I am hearing... The fridge.

Around the house... Organizing and decluttering.

One of my favorite things... Space.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
~Monday:  Horticultural Society Meeting
~Tuesday: Work on Cleaning & Organizing Bottom Kitchen Cupboards
~Wednesday: Housecleaning Day
~Thursday: Errands & Grocery Shopping
~Friday: Office work
~Saturday: Free

Here is a picture thought I am sharing... 

 

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I am joining...
Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Decluttering Countertops - Before & After

~Before~

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, my theme for this year is simplicity.

So I figured the best place to start would be my kitchen countertops.

 

~Before~

 

The first thing I did was to remove everything off of the counters.

 

 

And then I filled the sinks with bleach & water

and wiped down the counters and let them soak.

 

 

While the counters were being disinfected by the bleach solution

I sorted through everything I had removed from the counters

and decided which I was keeping, which was going,

which was going to be put back on the counter,

and which was going to have to find another home.

My guideline for this was if I used it every day it could go on the counters.

Less than that and it would have to go in the cupboards.

And anything I couldn't remember using or was broken was

put aside to give away or throw away.

 

This old CD player was on my countertop but it isn't needed

as I listen to the radio or my music from my ipad.

It was boxed up to donate and will free up a lot of space on my counters.

 

I do use my little chopper quite a bit but not every day

so a spot was found in the cupboard for it.

 

The lid on this kettle was broken and I am tired of boring electric kettles.

This went to the garbage and a red kettle will hopefully soon grace my stovetop.

 

 

 

I actually wasn't sure if the can opener should be on the counter or in a cupboard.

I decided to put it in a cupboard but decided if I found myself constantly

pulling it out to use I would move it to the counter.

 

 

 

 

~Before~

 

 

~After~

 

What a difference - so much more counter space.

It makes working in the kitchen so much easier!

 

~After~

 

Of course, the whole time I was moving things back and forth

Coda decided he needed to lay in the middle of everything

and keep an eye on things! Lol

~Finding the amazing in the simple~

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The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Simple Winter Kitchen Vignette

 

There's something about January that calls to my sense of simplicity.

 

Well, actually I have felt the desire to simplify before January.

I was just getting tired of the excess stuff that clogs up my life. 

 

 

And I wasn't the only one in our family feeling that way.

Our adult children wanted more time as a family and less gifts.

and our décor was slimmed down from other years but was still plenty.

It allowed us to actually enjoy and appreciate what we had out -

the decorations that had memories and meaning.

 

2014 has had a slow start but the theme for us this year is simplicity.

Do you have a theme or focus for the upcoming year?

 

 

  ~Finding the amazing in the simple~

Thanks so much for stopping by!



 

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