Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone a Happy  and safe New Year. As I look back on 2011 there were many great times and a few things I wish I could erase. I'm happy Hubs and I were able to purchase a house and do the majority of renovations. I'm blessed that we both have good jobs and each other and our wonderful families. Hubs and I will most likely spend the evening in, to ring in the new year. Going into 2012, I really hope its a better year then the way 2011 is ending. Guess we will just have to wait and see what it brings. Would also like to wish my parents a Happy Anniversary.

Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope everyone's day is filled with good food, family and friends.

Christmas Eve

Here we are, its Christmas Eve day already. Normally, I'm more excited then this for Christmas, but this year it just doesnt have the same feeling. I'll get more into it in a future post, just please keep my family in your prayers over the holidays. Hubs and I will be enjoying Christmas dinner for once this year. We kind of cheated and ordered a pre-cooked Christmas dinner from a local grocery store. It includes everything, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, cranberries, pie, dinner rolls. The only thing we need to supply is the veg. Hubs will pick it up on his way home from work, we continue cooking the turkey in the oven for 2.5 hrs and voila, turkey dinner.

Also wishing a Merry Christmas to all of Hubs family who celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve. Wish we could be there to celebrate the smorg.

Blah

I know I havent really been posting much this month. I've been busy working, Hubs and I wen't to visit his family earlier this week for a few days and I ended up coming home with a major cold. I also got some bad news from the homefront last night, so between this all I'm trying to deal and stay strong for my family back home.  I'll post more on whats going on when I feel up to it and know more, but please keep my family in your prayers and Hubs family as well. We have a few family members with health issues and want them all to get better.

On a little bit of a cheerier note, a friend from work became a grandmother yesterday to a little girl. Congratulations!! Such a wonderful Christmas present.

Salt Dough Handprints

I found this idea on a fellow blogger's blog and thought it was too cute not to share.
Salt dough handprints are a great idea for gifts not just at christmas, but any time of the year. To make the dough use:

2 cups of flour

1 cup of salt

1 cup of water

Knead the dough for awhile to get the right consistency (equivalent to play-doh). Then roll the dough into equal circles and press your hand or foot into the dough.

Put the dough into the oven at 200 degrees for 2-2 1/2 hours. Once hardened and cooled, you can paint and decorate however you like.

3D Paper Snowflake

I came across this idea for making 3D snowflakes from a fellow blogger (http://acoest1984.blogspot.com/) and had to share it with you. 



http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

Happy Engagaversary!

3 years ago today Hubs and I got engaged. Hubs decided to take me over to Pender Island, for what I thought would be a day of exploring since I had never been there. We were expecting snow that day, but luckily it hadn't started so Hubs took the plunge and decided to take me over anyway. When we got there, Hubs drove me to the bottom of Oak bluffs. We got out of the car, and he said we would be taking a hike up to the top of the bluffs. I put on my mittens as the air was starting to get quite chilly and I wanted to stay warm for the hike. When we got to the top of the bluffs, it was a beautiful site. We were overlooking the ocean and could see as far as the eye could see. We sat down on a bench and just looked out at the scenery. At one point Hubs said he thought we had each other mittens on, so I took mine off and thats when he gave a little heart warming speech and popped the question. Of course I said YES! We stayed up on the bluffs a little while longer before hiking down and heading for lunch (All the while, I couldn't stop stairing at my ring). After lunch we explored a little more and it started to snow. Where we live, we don't get too much snow (where I grew up we always had snow at Christmas) so it was fitting that it started to snow on the day Hubs proposed. We decided to head back home before we got stuck on the island in the snow. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect proposal.

Cheese Ball Recipe

Cheese Ball Recipe

1 pkg of cream cheese
1/2 c. parmasean cheese
1/4 c. mayo
1/2 tsp orageno
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp worschestershire sauce

Mix in a med bowl allow to chill, form ball and then roll in bread crumbs...
serve with crackers...

*I don't roll mine in breadcrumbs when it's finished and it tastes just as good.

It's Finally December

I'm off the weekend, which means I'm going to start decorating the house for Christmas. I have the majority of my cards ready to go, I picked up stamps today so now I just need to get them in the mail. I'll have to post pictures of the decorations when I get them up.

Christmas Traditions quiz

I came across this survey over at Baby Schmizz, and thought it would be fun to do.

Christmas Traditions

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Definitly hot chocolate. I love chocolate of any kind, and when its warm who could ask for more? I generally don't drink to much egg nogg, a cup or 2 over the holiday season is enough for me. 

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps all the presents. Part of the fun is unwrapping the presents.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Definitly colored lights on the tree and outside. I like to use white lights on the garland.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not in our home, we don't have any. When I was younger my parents used to hang mistletoe.

5. When do you put your decorations up? December 1st or the first weekend in Dec if its early enough. 

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? My favorite holiday dish is my grandmothers stuffing and gravy.  

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Watching Charlie Brown's Christmas, and all the other Christmas classics. 

 
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm not sure, it might have been when I asked santa to leave a bootprint and he left a boot mark on a paper towel that looked a lot like my dads work boot.

   

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? As a child we opened one present on Christmas eve,  now Hubs and I open presents whenever because we both have busy Christmas working schedules.

 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We decorate the tree with lights, garland, christmas balls, and tinsle.  Our current tree is only 3 ft tall so it runs out of room fast. We do however have an ornament from ech year of being together (i.e. first christmas together, first married christmas together, this year I plan to get first house together ornament). We also plan on purchasing a bigger tree this season.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it!! 

12. Can you ice skate? I can, but I'm not great at it.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I have many favorite Christmas gifts from over the years. My most favorite current one is my engagement ring I received 12/13/08.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with family and friends and all the yummy food.

 15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My favorite holiday desserts are sugar cookies, shortbread cookies, ginger cookies, gingerbread men, mincemeat pie. 

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Buying a new ornament each year for our tree and sending out Christmas cards.

17. What tops your tree? A star

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? YYummy, I love the old fashioned candy canes. Just eating one, putting them in hot chocolate, or crushing them and putting them on baked items.

20. Favorite Christmas show? Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas

21. Saddest Christmas Song? I love all Christmas songs

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? H love all Christmas songs

Flat Truffle Recipe

I found this recipe in a Company's Coming Cook Book. It's quick and easy to make.

1/2 cup Butter or margarine
1/3 cup Cocoa
3/4 cup Icing sugar
Crushed nuts, or anything else you would like to roll your truffle in (I like crushed candy cane for Christmas, cocoa or icing sugar)

Cream butter until soft and pliable. Sift in cocoa, blend well. Add icing sugar, sifting if any lumps. Mix well, adding more icing sugar if to soft to roll. Your able to work 1-2 spoonfuls at least into batter. Shape into roll.

Roll in nuts, chill several hours, then slice.

*I just made this recipe but instead of rolling and cutting the truffle, I just rolled it into balls and it turned out great.

Updated 101 in 1001

This is my second version of 101 in 1001. I finished most of the things on my original list sooner then I had expected and so I decided to make another list.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 14, 2011
End Date: August 10, 2014

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (13/33)
2. Have a baby
3. Celebrate 2nd Anniversary
4. Talk to home every weekend (27/132)
5. Visit Halifax for my brother's grad
6. Buy a 2nd house
7. Get pregnant
8. Celebrate our 1st Christmas in our New House
9. Go on a vacation with family

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Learn to cook a new healthy meal
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (8/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (6/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Have a bubble bath
18. Get a library card
19. Spend a day at the ocean
20. Declutter

21. Go on another trip
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (14/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight
26. Go for a walk with Hubby every night for a week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month

Home Is Where the Heart Is

28. Get spare rooms organized
29. Buy a dresser for spare room
30. Hang wedding pictures
31. Cook our first turkey
32. Get a new dresser set
33. Reno the main bathroom
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (1/6)
37. Repaint shed
38. Buy blinds for the house

All Work, No Play
39. Get a new fridge
40. Get a new dishwasher
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (17/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubs achieve his work goals

44. Get a new job, closer to home or clerical
45. Take another course at work
46. Learn to speak Spanish

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip
48. Travel to Hawaii
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (11/33)
56. Try a new restaurant
57. Try making a new cultural food
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Put new recipe's on the blog (0/3)
61. Make tapas

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (7/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (2/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2012

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for another house
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Make a budget
71. Put more money on the house
72. Put more money on the car payment
73. Save for a rainy day

Pay It Forward
74. Donate to charity
75. Volunteer for a good cause
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (0/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to a hockey game
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Rent a hotel room for a night to get away
83. Take more pictures
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Buy a new Christmas tree and decorations

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (13/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (8/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Lose some weight
98. Deweed garden
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Tut, Tut it looks like rain

It's been raining here pretty solid for almost the last 6 hours. All its done the last few days is rain. I like rain as much as the next person, but its getting a little rediculous. Although, if it were snowing right now, we would have one heck of a snowstorm

New 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 14, 2011
End Date: August 10, 2014

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (13/33)
2. Have a baby
3. Celebrate 2nd Anniversary
4. Talk to home every weekend (27/132)
5. Visit Halifax for my brother's grad
6.  Buy a 2nd house
7. Get pregnant
8. Celebrate our 1st Christmas in our New House
9. Go on a vacation with family

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Learn to cook a new healthy meal
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (7/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (6/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Have a bubble bath
18. Get a library card
19. Spend a day at the ocean
20. Declutter

21.  Go on another trip
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (14/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight
26. Go for a walk with Hubby every night for a week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month

Home Is Where the Heart Is

28. Get spare rooms organized
29. Buy a dresser for spare room
30. Hang wedding pictures
31.  Cook our first turkey
32. Get a new dresser set
33. Reno the main bathroom
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (1/6)
37. Repaint shed
38. Buy blinds for the house

All Work, No Play
39. Get a new fridge
40. Get a new dishwasher
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (16/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43.  Help Hubs achieve his work goals

44. Get a new job, closer to home or clerical
45. Take another course at work
46. Learn to speak Spanish

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip
48. Travel to Hawaii
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (11/33)
56. Try a new restaurant
57.  Try making a new cultural food
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Put new recipe's on the blog (0/3)
61. Make tapas

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (7/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (2/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party 
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2012

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for another house
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Make a budget
71.  Put more money on the house
72. Put more money on the car payment
73. Save for a rainy day

Pay It Forward
74. Donate to charity
75. Volunteer for a good cause
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to a hockey game
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Rent a hotel room for a night to get away
83.  Take more pictures
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Buy a new Christmas tree and decorations

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (12/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (7/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Lose some weight
98. Deweed garden
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (13/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (27/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed July 10, 2011)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (7/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (6/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)

21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (14/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (1/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (16/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business

44. Get a permanent job(Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (11/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (9/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (7/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (2/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house(Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car (Completed Nov 12, 2011)
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (3/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (6/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (12/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (7/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album(Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project


It looks like this 101 in 1001 is going to be finished a lot sooner then I expected it to be. Well for the most part it will be completed. I'm thinking of starting a new one so I can add a bunch of new things to complete.

New Addition to the Family!

Hubs and I have been debating getting a second car for a while. We both work shiftwork and between bus schedules and trying to figure out who works when, so we can plan picks ups or who drops off who, it was definitly time. Before we moved into our house, the bus was easy for me to take to/from work and I could usually grab a ride home. Once we moved, the bus was so much more difficult for Hubs (I.e. he would have to leave 1.5 hrs before work just to get to work on time when its an 8 min drive). If Hubs drove me to work and I caught the bus home it took me just over 2 hours to get home (vs. a 30min car ride). We had been on the lookout for a 2nd car for a while, but with buying the house and reno's, money was a bit of an issue. A couple weeks ago, one of Hubs friends texted Hubs and said he was selling a 92 Corolla. We talked about it and decided to go for it. It was a great deal, and the car is in pretty good shape for its age. Needless to say, we are now the proud owners of a second vehicle.

Remembrance Day

Here's to a moment of silence for all those who fought to keep our country safe and free. I thank you for everything you have done and will never forget. 

A Little About Me

I'm stealing today's blog post from Mandy, over at Mommy Musings.

Guilty Pleasure? Chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven and Lemon drop martini's.

I can't travel without? My cell, sunglasses, hair straightener, gloves/scarf if its fall/winter, sunscreen if its summer

Recent Splurge? Our 2 week trip to Mexico and our new car in Aug.

My go-to flower? Peonies, freesia and roses

In bulk, I buy? Paper towel, flour, spices

I sleep on? A new queen bed we just purchased a few months ago, sooo comfy

Comfort Food? Warm chocolate chip cookies, Mac & Cheese, tomato soup and grilled cheese

For Breakfast? Toast, cereal, bagel and PB, omelette, english muffin with egg, cheese & bacon, it all depends but I always eat something for breakfast

For Dinner? Always different, last night it was fettuccini alfredo

Love/hate relationship with? Excercise, where I work

Can't Stop Watching? Glee, Desperate housewives, Grey's Anatomy, 2 broke girls, 2 and a Half Men, Amazing Race, Survivor, Pan Am and Big Bang Theory.

Best online shopping find? N/A, I don't shop online

Dreaming about? Owning a second home, having a baby

Crushing on? Henrik Sedin

Every girl should have? A great friend,a favorite movie and food/drink

My style in five words? Simple, plain, boring, inexpensive

I love wearing? My favorite dress or skirt

Dream Job? Something in the healthcare field

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (13/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (27/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed this upcoming Sun)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (7/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (6/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)

21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (13/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (1/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (15/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business

44. Get a permanent job(Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (11/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (9/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (7/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (1/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house(Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (3/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (6/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (11/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (7/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album(Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Congrats!

Congratulations to my coworker on the birth of his beautiful daughter yesterday afternoon. As well I wanted to congratulate my boss on the birth of his son mid October. Hub's cousin's wife also had their first,a boy, the end of October. Another of Hub's friends just announced she is pregnant as well.

Not to much going on with me. Just relaxing and enjoying a day off without unpacking, doing to much cleaning or running around. I found a great recipe for Mexican cookies and hope to try it out soon.

It's November

Happy November everyone. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween. We had no trick-or-treaters this year :( so that leaves us with a bunch of candy and playdough. I can't believe its November 1st already. I can't wait to start putting out the Christmas decorations and get a new tree this year.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone. I've got the day off with Hubs which is nice as it doesn't happen to often that we get a holiday off together. We don't have to much planned, just a quiet night in since the neighborhoods will be filled with kids out trick or treating. Hope everyone has a fun, safe night, and the kids get a bag full of candy.

Review of Resort in Mexico

Hubs and I just got back from our 2 week vacation in Mexico, where we stayed at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya. We were extremely excited as last year we enjoyed our trip to Mexico immensely. This resort is rated at 5 *'s, however, we felt the service and feel of the resort gave off more of a 3 * feeling. We definitly would not stay at this resort again.

Pro's :

- The room was great. It was large, spacious, had a huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub.
- Air conditioning system in the rooms kept the room comfortable and not damp and musty like some resorts
- Free safe in each room was a bonus (most resorts you pay an extra fee for this service)
-Spa was amazing (We did the water circuit twice and the tezemecal)
- Provided robes and slippers in each room
- Room service was included from 11-11 which was great
- El Patio (Mexican restaurant) had delicious food
-Ikebana (Japanese restaurant) had great atmosphere and delicious food as well.
-La Gira Rodizio (Brazilian Food) was great too
-The beach was nice, lots of beach chairs and a gorgeous view with ruins.
-Frederico and one other waiter were the only decent waiters at the resort and the only ones we tipped
- Cleaning staff were excellent and friendly
- Ice cream shop was the perfect treat
- The lazy river was relaxing
- We seen lots of iguanas and even a monkey
-Our westjet rep Lili was amazing

Con's:

- Our welcome drink was warm juice which was disapointing
- We were booked into a room with 2 double beds (We asked for a queen or king during our booking, and with a few complaints they managed to find us a king bed the next day)
-Our original room was so far away from the restaurants, theatre
- The resort was huge, it took us 45 min to walk around the whole resort and you needed a shuttle to get to the spa which was in the middle of nowhere
- Concierge's tried to sell time shares and were always asking your room #, even if you weren't in that block of rooms and just walked by.
- You had to book the spa/restaurants through the concierge.
- The nightly entertaintment was sub-par, we only watched 1 show and a few min of another in the 2 weeks we were there.
- The drinks were watered down until we complained, then, depending on the bar tender, they got better
-There was a lot of construction and maintenance going on while we were there
- Due to heavy rain, the main lobby had some roofing fall, blocking off half the lobby until it was fixed
-No rainy day entertainment was available
- The resort itself had a concrete jungle feel, it lacked flowers and charm.
-Buffet food was mostly cold (another complaint we put in) and another common complaint we heard in the lobby
-Buffet food was repetative and the same old every day, unless you hit a theme night (mon,wed, sun). The best theme night was Japanese
- We had to get our shower and patio  door repaired in our new room
- Many of the fancy showerheads didn't work (common complaint we overheard in the lobby)
- House wine tasted horrible and always seemed to have fruit flies in it
-The cajun restaurant was horrible, we ordered the jambalaya and it came out with cut up hot dog as a garnish on top (mentioned it to our concierge and he said we should have ordered what he told us to and that he heard nothing good about the jambalaya)
- The steak house was ok, it was middle of the road, nice change from the buffet
- Even though we had special reservations for the A La Carte restaurants, their desserts werent any different or better then the generic buffet, except for the Japanese restaurant
- It was hard to make reservations for the restaurants as they werent open to often
-We had the French Restaurant given to us (it was an extra $60 Canadian per person) and it was horrible, we were so glad we didn't have to pay for it.
- The bars all closed early except those in the lobby, which even closed by midnight.
- There was never a restaurant open all day, each one open and closed throughout the day. Breakfast was from 7-10, lunch 1-3 and supper from 6-10. Nothing was open after 10pm or between 3-6pm.
-There was a lack of things to do past 5. Everything shut down around 5 or 6, so you had wait until 9pm for the show in the theatre.
- There were no roof top views or restaurants to lounge at
- The floors were extremely slippery when wet (horrible mix when you add rain or even the thought of people coming from a pool) I bailed once down a set of stairs and had a nice bruise on my leg the whole time I was there.
- Staff didnt seem overly friendly
-The beach sand was full of coral and sheels so it felt rocky on the feet, and the beach was smaller then we thought.
- Apparently there are 2 different hotels, the cheaper and more expensive one and there seeemed to be no difference between the 2 other then how much you paid to be on the more expensive side. Everything was shared between the 2 resorts so dont waste your money to stay at the "nicer" one

Overall, we enjoyed our stay at a 4.5 * resort last year so much better. The service and activies/entertainment was beyond comparison compared to the resort we stayed at this year. I would recommend the Catalonia Yucatan beach resort and spa

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (12/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (26/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed this upcoming Sun)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (7/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (6/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)

21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (12/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (0/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (14/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business

44. Get a permanent job(Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (10/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (9/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (7/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (1/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house(Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (2/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (5/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (10/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (7/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album(Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Home

Hubs and I are home from our much needed and enjoyed 2 week vacation. Will post all about it as soon as I get a chance.

On vacation!!!

Hubs and I are away on our much needed vacation...... loving every minute of it. Will update when we get home.

Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone here in Canada a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day with family, friends and good food.

Tips and Tricks I've picked up

I've been with my Hubs for a little over 3 years now and we have been married just over a year. Before moving in with Hubs I lived with my parents. So it was a big transition for me to go from living at home to being completely independant. Moving out on your own means your responsible for the bills, the cooking, cleaning, and everything else that comes with living on your own. Luckily when I moved in with Hubs, he had most of the basics already (i.e. dishes, cups, cutlery, pots/pans, basic furniture, etc) so I was able to move in, and overtime, with Hubs, build on those basics. Over the few years I've lived on my own with Hubs, I've picked up a few tips and tricks to keeping the household running smoothly and I thought I would pass them along:

*Always keep on top of the laundry throughout the week (This prevents having to do piles of laundry on the weekend). Hubs and I will often set the washer to start just before we get home so the laundry is ready to be popped into the dryer.
*Never leave dirty dishes in the sink, always put them in the dishwasher or wash them right away.
*Unload the dishwasher when the dishes are clean so your more likely to put in the dirty dishes right away
*Always fold laundry right away. Even if its not put away, then at least it doesn't wrinkle.
*Do small cleaning tasks daily so you don't have a large to do list on days off
*Clean up as you go
*Sort Mail ASAP (When I get mail, I look at it right away and make a pile for bills, recycle the junk mail, look at flyers and make a list of sales, then recyle the flyers)
*Make a cleaning schedule (my cleaning schedule isn't specific as in Mondays=laundry, tuesdays=vaccuming, but I make blocks for cleaning. Usually this means I'll take a couple hours while Hubs is working and vaccum, do laundry, dust, etc)
*Keep a list for grocery and toiletry items that are running low
*Buy and stock up on sale (I don't go as far as the extreme couponing show, however if its a good sale and the item can last a while I stock up. Why spend $4.99 for 1 bottle of shampoo each time you need it when you can buy it on sale for $1.50. I do this for many items we use regularily and it stops us from running to the store and spending top dollar when we run out unexpectedly)

Pumpkin Pancakes

I came across this recipe for pumpkin pancakes on one of my favorite blogs Heather Drive. Everyone knows about my love for pumpkin and I thought this recipe would be a perfect addition to my recipe collection.

Ingredients:- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground allspice
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp. vinegar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions:1. In a small bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, eggs, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.
2. In a separate, larger bowl, combine the flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, and spices.
3. Add pumpkin/milk mixture into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir just until combined.
4. Heat a lightly oiled (I use nonstick spray) griddle or skillet over medium high heat. Pour or scoop batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup batter for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

It's October

October has arrived and its cetainly brought the cooler weather with it. On my way to work this morning I noticed the temp gauge in the car read 7oC. It's also just about dark when I get home at 7, opposed to 9pm during the summer. I'm counting down the days until summer is back again. I'm also counting down the days until Hubs and I go on vacation. Its getting close :) Anyone else have vacations planned for this month?

All about me

So I stole this blog post from over at the Adventures of the Roberts. I enjoy reading Cari's blog, feel free to check it out.

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Queen.

C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the bathroom

D. Dogs: None

E. Essential start to your day: A glass of juice and most times a shower

F. Favorite color: Blue

G. Gold or Silver: White Gold

H. Height: 5'1"

I. Instruments you play: None

J. Job title: Food Service

K. Kids: 5yo stepdaughter

L. Live: Canada

M. Mother's name: Mom

N. Nicknames: too many to list

O. Overnight hospital stays: none

P. Pet peeve: Not replacing the toilet paper roll, leaving dishes on the counter

Quote from a movie: Someone made me ink

R. Right or left handed: Right handed

S. Siblings: 1 brother and 1 sister, both younger

T. Time you wake up: Either 4:15 or 7:30ish

U. Underwear: yes

V. Vegetable you hate: Zuchinni, peas

W. What makes you run late: Being disorganized

X. X-Rays you've had: Teeth, chest

Y. Yummy food that you make: Curry broccoli chicken, pumpkin pie, pumpkin loaf

Z. Zoo animal: Elephant

Updated 101 in 1001

I've seen this 101 in 1001 days blog "project" a few times before, but have never really paid much attention to it. I've been meaning to start it for a while now, and finally decided to do it. The only thing was that I underestimated how hard it would be to come up with 101 things! It took a while.

Not familiar with the 101 Things in 1001 Days project? Check out this website.
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Start Date: November 1, 2010
End Date: July 28, 2013

Marriage & Family
1. “Date night” with Hubs once a month (11/33)
2. Surprise my husband with a gift just because
3. Get married (Completed July 10, 2010)
4. Talk to home every weekend (25/132)
5. Plan a trip to Halifax (Completed Feb 2011 for trip in June 2011)
6. Buy a house (In the works Feb 2011)
7. Have a baby
8. Visit Hubb's family for Christmas (Completed December 23, 2010)
9. Celebrate 1st wedding anniversary (Completed this upcoming Sun)

Mind, Body & Soul
10. Lose 10 lbs
11. Go a week without weighing myself
12. Complete some form of exercise at least 3 times per week
13. Read at least one book per month (6/33)
14. Give up soda for a week
15. Learn a new recipe and cook it at least once a month (5/33)
16. Get a hobby
17. Get my first massage (Completed Nov 20, 2010)
18. Have another manicure or pedicure (Completed February 15, 2011)
19. See a sunrise and sunset in the same day
20. Hike a really large hill (Completed Nov 2010)

21. Go on our honeymoon (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
22. Do something for myself at least once a month (11/33)
23. No dessert or cookies at work for 2 weeks
24. For one week, go to bed at 9:00 p.m. just to read
25. Clear the dinning room table off to eat dinner there again (Completed Jan 22/11)
26. No tv for one week
27. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for a month
28. After baby, get back to pre-pregnancy weight

Home Is Where the Heart Is
29. Put new carpeting in the spare bedrooms (Completed August 31, 2011)
30. Finish our wedding album
31. Buy a new vaccum (Completed December 27, 2010)
32. Get a new bed (Completed April 2011)
33. Get a new dining room table (Completed June 2011)
34. Empty entire fridge, clean it, then put everything back in (Completed March 20, 2011)
35. Reorganize kitchen cabinets and paint them
36. Defrost freezer twice a year (0/6)
37. Buy a new house (Completed March 15, 2011)
38. Finish Painting 2 spare bedrooms (Completed August 28, 2011)

All Work, No Play
39. Upgrade our camera (Completed Nov 4, 2010)
40. Get a new washer and dryer (Completed Sept 2010)
41. Stay on top of the house cleaning (12/33)
42. Start a wedding planning business
43. Help Hubbs with his business

44. Get a permanent job(Completed June 2011)
45. Get another term at my current job (Completed Jan 20/11)
46. Take 3 courses at work

Hit the Open Road
47. Take a spontaneous road trip (2/3)
48. Travel to a foreign country (Completed Nov 15, 2010)
49. Visit Newfoundland
50. Visit friends in Winnipeg
51. Go camping at least once each summer (2/3)
52. Have a picnic in the park we got married
53. Visit the Buchart gardens in the winter
54. Visit Hubbs friends in Alberta

I ♥ Food
55. Update my recipe book with new recipes (At least once a month (9/33)
56. Go out just for dessert
57. Go Out for Breakfast (5/5) (Completed March 26, 2011)
58. Don't eat out for an entire month
59. Make homemade pasta
60. Try something new at least 3 times a year (9/9)
61. Make banana bread with all the banana's in the freezer

Friends Are Forever
62. Email my best friend once a week (6/146)
63. Send Christmas cards each Christmas (1/3)
64. E-mail friends at least once per month (1/33)
65. Catch up with an old friend
66. Have a party or dinner party (Completed June 2011)
67. Send birthday cards to all friends/family in 2011

Pinching Pennies
68. Save for a house(Completed February 22, 2011)
69. Set up retirement savings

Cha-Ching
70. Pay off all debts (Completed August 2011)
71. Pay off LASIK Surgery (Completed February 22, 2011)
72. Buy a second car
73. Budget for a vacation

Pay It Forward
74. Clean out closet and donate to charity (2/3)
75. Donate to Christmas charity
76. Buy something from a thrift store that supports a charity
77. Donate money to a children's charity (5/6)

Just for Fun
78. Go skiing
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the fall fair
81. Buy a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch and carve it
82. Go to a local museum
83. Take pictures on all our excursions
84. Have a Christmas cookie exchange (1/3)
85. Decorate for Christmas

Hobbies & Skills
86. Blog once a week at least (9/33)
87. Learn to cook more things
88. Get some family tradition recipes
89. Make a scrapbook
90. Read a book a month (6/33)

Capture the Memories
91. Get wedding album (Completed May 2, 2011)
92. Print photoes of each year's events and put in photo album
93. Get photos printed to hang in home
94. Take more pictures
95. Complete 101 in 1001
96. Send more pictures to family

No More Procrastinating
97. Pick pictures for wedding album(Completed Jan 24/11)
98. Clean out email accounts
99. Start an excercise routine

101 in 1001
100. Start a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list once this one is completed
101. Get friends in on this project

Pumpkin Pie and pumpkin loaf

Since Hubs and I will be away for Thanksgiving this year, I figured that I should do a little fall baking now so we can enjoy a little pumpkin before we leave. Earlier this year I had made a pumpkin pie, however, I had made way to much filling. I froze over a 1kg of the premixed filling for a later use. Today that frozen mix came in handy. I let it thaw in water in the fridge for most of the day and made up a pie crust. Thats right, I make my own pie crust with my grandmother's recipe and unfortunately I won't be giving it out at this time (It's a family secret). Having made to much filling months ago actually made baking today easier, because half the work was already done.
I had just enough filling left over to make a pumpkin loaf. I found a recipe online last fall and saved it to my recipe's as it came out a success and tasted delicious.

Here is the recipe taken from http://www.kitchentotable.com/recipes/dessert/pumpkin-loaf.php.

• 1 ¼ cups Brown sugar
• ½ cup Cooking oil
• 1 2/3 cups Cooked or canned pumpkin
• 2 Eggs
• 2 ½ cups All purpose flour
• 3 tsp Baking powder
• ½ tsp each Salt, ginger, & ground cloves
• 1 ¼ tsp cinnamon

Beat together 1 cup sugar, oil, pumpkin & eggs.
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, cloves, and 1 tsp cinnamon.
Combine pumpkin mixture with dry ingredients just enough to moisten all ingredients.
Spoon into 2 lightly greased loaf pans.
Mix remaining ¼ cup brown sugar and ¼ tsp cinnamon.
Sprinkle over unbaked loaves.
Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool slightly and remove from pans.
Makes 2 loaves.

Another great recipe I made last year was pumpkin muffins. Feel free to check out the recipe as well.