Happy New Year!

I am so sick this week, so I am posting in bulk. Have a wonderful New Year!

Single Father Talk
Making New Year’s Eve Special

Good Times Site
Getting Ready for 2012

At Home Working
Feng Shui for the New Year

Internet Mom News
Homeschooling As a Feminist Act

Divorced Singles
Mature Dating Sites are Working Too Hard

Medicine Report
Zicam is Amazing, If Taken Correctly

Country Talk
When Did Country Girl Become Synonymous with Pole Dancer?

Restaurant Job Market
Why is Country Music Played Everywhere?

Capitalist Voters League
Charging Fees to Pay Your Bill is Stupid

Arlington Book Club
Snow White, Blood Red

League of Capitalist Voters
Enough with the End of Year Donation Requests!

League of Childrens Services Voters
When You’re Both Sick

Queue With You
The Jetsons Movie: Cheesy Early 90s Goodness

Get Well Toys
Legos Are Already for Girls

League of Free Market Voters
Homeschoolers Should Not Endorse Ron Paul

Things I Love Thursday

This really has been a wonderful month, even if a little hectic! Some things I am loving right now include…

Christmas at Mom’s! We had great food, great games, and great company. I only wish my aunt could have been there. I have missed her so much this month!         Wood Sprite’s Christmas gifts–they are so much fun! My sister bought her a dinosaur that farts and roars and does all kinds of things; it is so funny. It kept us all entertained on Christmas! We have also all played with her microscope, bendaroos, and other cool stuff.       Wood Sprite’s face when she woke us up to tell us Santa had come. It made EVERYTHING worthwhile!      Watching holiday classics; can’t wait to see It’s a Wonderful Life live next month.      Finishing some projects, including two homeschooling submissions and my regular deadlines. I am so excited to have an article about homeschooling in next month’s issue of Life Learning Magazine!       My work. I don’t express gratitude often enough for the super cool job that I have. I love writing and I love working from home.      Noke, one of the kittens, cuddling on my back when I write! I keep a blanket over my office chair and she gets under it, then nestles up against my back like a baby and goes to sleep. I’ve never seen anything like it!      Wood Sprite’s new hamster, Snowflake. She’s a baby and squeaks a lot!     My husband’s new job, which is still going great!      Zicam. My husband and I have both been sick this week and it’s really helped, even if it tastes absolutely terrible. Reminds me of those pink antibiotics we had to take as kids! Next time I will try a different flavor.       The library letting us use a room for homeschool group playdates during the winter. So awesome!     A week without many plans; it’s so rare in our house. Do we get stir crazy? Sure, but it’s nice to just snuggle at home over a couple of books and hot chocolate, too. Still, Wood Sprite could really use some running room on cold, wet days…!  😉

Things I Love Thursday

So many things to love this week, including…

Caroling with 4-H Club! That was so much fun, and Wood Sprite’s first experience singing for a group.      Early Christmas with my aunt, who unfortunately will not not able to celebrate with us this year as she is sick. 😦      Visiting my sister and seeing her adorable kitten; we never stay long enough when we see her!     An absolutely amazing date day! We shopped for WS’s gifts and had tapas out at both Feraro’s and Macaroni Grill. With careful planning, we spent less than we would have in one sit-down meal elsewhere. At Feraro’s, you can get Jersey style pizza by the slice, and Macaroni Grill has a new tapas menu with 2 for $9 specials! We had an absolute blast; can’t wait to do it again sometime.     Visiting with another aunt and uncle, though briefly due to work.      The health of my family; we’ve had a lot of health issues this fall/winter and I am so grateful we are all here and well!      “Cosmic Love” by Florence & the Machine. It sounds like you are actually flying on a star while it plays!     Orange Leaf frozen yogurt. We went this week and it is not only delicious but so reasonable, with a really fun atmosphere.     Making something with Wood Sprite every single day. I checked off “Make something every day for a week” from my list of 100 things to Do while 29, and it was so much fun I want to do it again! We’ve made instruments, a rocket, TONS of ornaments and decorations, and more.     The wrapping is DONE as of tonight!     Holidays coming up; cannot wait for some of my mom’s amazing food. 😉

Donate Your Socks to Science

Have extra socks, mismatched socks, socks with holes, or just ugly ones you want to get rid of? Send them to this rare weasel study project and they’ll be put to good use!

Green Voters League
Donate Your Old Socks to Science

American Journey
Give the Gift of Time

The Brainy Bloid
Resolve to Better Your Brain

Manic Depressive Talk
Keeping Holiday Blues Away

Toys Store
To Buy or Not to Buy?

Fun Books for the Holidays

…or for any time of the year!

Chicago Book Club
Challenge Your Brain Puzzle Book

Nashville Book Club
Life’s Little Instruction Book

Aurora Book Club
Life Animals! Picture Puzzle Book

Anaheim Book Club
The Big Book of Family Fun

Living to Do
Just Let It Go

Been to Wired Coffee?

If not, you absolutely have to add it to your list of places to visit in 2o12, especially if you are near or in St. Louis!

Midwest Specialties
Wired Coffee is a St. Louis Bucket List Must!

Rich in Religion
Georgia Student Harassed by Teacher for Being Pagan

Men’s Specialties
Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Internet Mom News
Stop Taking Things So Seriously!

10 Off
Save Ten Bucks (Or Much More) Today

Reindeer Crafts for Kids

Mom Loves Entertainment
Making Reindeer Crafts

Mom Knows First
Tips for Making Holiday Pomanders

Cool Cat Blog
Keeping Cats Away From the Christmas Tree

PG Movies
Why Care Bears: The Next Generation is the Ideal Kid Movie

Friend or Foe
STFU with Your Tough Love BS

Busting Holiday Boredom Blues

Mom Loves Fun
Busting Holiday Boredom Blues

Hobby Report
How to Make a Craft Box

Homeschooling Books
Geography Fun

League of Children Services Voters
Awesome Handmade Gifts for Kids

Handmade Gifts for Grandparents

Holiday Gift Advisor
Must-Make Holiday Gifts for Grandparents

Childrens Services Voters League
Holiday Gifts for Teachers

Preschool Diary
Perfect Holiday Party for Kids

Romantic Talk
Free Holiday Gifts for Your Sweetheart

things I love Thursday

This week feels a little less hectic than last week, but it’s still sort of hustle and bustle-y. So much to do and so many places to be, often at once!

This week I am loving…

Game night at my mom’s house. We had to leave early since my husband had work early the next day, but we still had lots of fun, and my cousin made insanely delicious burritos!       Wood Sprite earned her yellow belt on Saturday. She doesn’t have the belt itself just yet, but after some intense effort she was able to break a board with a kick, and she was so proud of it that we hung the board up at home!       BFFs who keep you in mind! I am sad that Fashion Bug in Arnold is going out of business, but grateful that my best friend was able to find a couple of amazing deals there to share with me–on HER birthday, nonetheless!       Being crafty with Wood Sprite. We’ve been making something every day (often more than one something), from ornaments to pictures to cards for nursing homes.      Taking WS to see Santa at the library. She was scared; this was the first time she asked to leave. But she went through with it and we had a good time. We ran into some friends from taekwondo, too.       WS teaching me how to use her glockenspiel        WS’s classes being over until January; I sense some welcome moments of boredom ahead!        Our Clover Kids holiday party was so much fun, after we had a few mishaps on the way there. We ate, sang, exchanged homemade gifts (she gave her Secret Santa an ornament she painted; hers gave her some homemade slime!), and practiced for caroling at My Place this weekend. We also took WS to see a live nativity afterward.