My little Christmas princess

Christmas time...

I love Christmas time. It's by far my favorite time of year. I love the colder weather, the snow, the Christmas lights around town, the way my house looks and feels with the Christmas tree up, Christmas music, and making my house fill up with the aroma of baked goodies. I also enjoy decorating my house. Even though it's on a very small scale, I like putting little Christmas tidbits around the house, enough to make me smile and feel all warm and "Christmasy" when I look at them. I thought I'd share with you a few pictures of things around my house.

Things that bring me joy (besides my family)...

reading a good book
listening to music
decorating my home
cooking
drinking wine
dancing
tree lined streets
houseplants in pretty pots
creating things with my hands
getting new all natural skincare
learning about healthy living and eating
new books and DVD's from the library
watching romantic comedies
eating Haagen Dazs chocolate ice cream
connecting with a friend
my bed
shopping at Target
a clean, organized home
good coffee
eating at a favorite restaurant
looking at decorating blogs and magazines
shopping at Whole Foods
Christmas time (baking, listening to Christmas music, decorating, snow)
hot bubble baths
Autumn
research/intellectual stimulation
browsing Barnes & Noble with a cup of coffee

Ahhhhhhhh...

Ridiculously simple, yet the best sugar cookies you'll ever eat, sugar cookie recipe...

3 sticks of softened butter
2 cups of sugar
(cream together)

add 4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(beat with creamed butter and sugar)

2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
5 cups flour (I did 3 cups organic, unbleached white and 2 cups whole wheat pastry)
(mix in separate bowl first, and then beat together with creamed mixture to make dough)

Put dough in fridge for about 15 minutes to harden it a little. Roll out the dough to desired thickness and make shapes with cookie cutters.

I make these every Christmas and my family goes nuts over them. I know they are LOADED with fattening, ingredients, but, hey--it's Christmas. You gotta splurge sometimes!

New York, New York

I just got back not too long ago from a trip to New York. What an amazing experience. I have a cousin that I am very close to and grew up with that lives there. My friend from Las Vegas who is close to my cousin as well flew in to New York also. We all got to hang out like old times. I actually went by myself. No kids, no hubbies. It was great. I even flew by myself, which I was nervous about, but ended up loving it. I was only there for three days which was just enough. Any longer and I would have missed my kids too much.

I have to say, I absolutely love New York but I couldn't live there. I little too fast paced for me. Everybody is always movin' and a groovin'! Riding the subway was definitely an experience in itself. My cousin lives in Brooklyn so we spent quite a bit of time there. We also took the train into Manhattan and walked around (ALOT!) and did some shopping and eating. We went to China Town and Soho. I got to shop at the Whole Foods in Manhattan which was amazing. That place was huge with two levels and a huge restaurant area. I loved it!

One of my favorite places to eat was a place called Paloma's in Brooklyn. One of the contestants on "The Next Food Network Star" opened this place up. It had great food, amazing atmosphere and yummy drinks. This place was probably one of the highlights of the trip for me. My friend, Sheila, was freaking out because she didn't know that the owner was a contestant from "The Next Food Network Star" and she LOVES that show. She ended up talking to Camille Beccera and getting an autograph and picture with her.



I definitely want to visit New York again. I actually would like to bring my family with me next time and stay longer. It's one of those places that you at least have to visit once in your lifetime!

Free to wear Sunscreen!

I wanted to share this video with you. The words were written by a lady named Mary Schmich in 1997. She wrote it as an essay assignment. It was later published in the Chicago Tribune. This was also used in the movie The Big Kahuna. I hope it touches you like it has me!

First day of preschool!

Today was a monumental day in the Grigsby household. Maleah went to preschool. After 4 years of being at home with mom she is spreading her little wings and venturing out to make new friends and learn new things. She was soooo excited about going. She woke up bright and early and ready to go. I, on the other hand, was a wreck. Well, not really, but I felt really weird. I felt anxious and unsteady. We rarely get a babysitter for her let alone hand her over to complete strangers for five hours a day, twice a week. But, this preschool is awesome and I feel very comfortable leaving her there. They were very loving and nurturing towards her. I actually think it's going to be very good for her. And Lord knows I need the "me" time. I drove around today after I dropped her off and I didn't know what to do. It felt so foreign to not have her. Thursday will be different. I will get into a routine of cleaning the house, going to the gym, shopping, having coffee with girlfriends and whatever else may come my way. Lovely! I think I'm going to enjoy this season of my life.