Goal for 2012

It is the time of year when I like to decide what new goal I'm going to have to better myself in the coming year. This year I've decided to pick one goal and make it a great one. 

I'm going to be incorporating the FlyLady system into my life. From FlyLady.net:

FlyLady uses the Sidetracked Home Executive (SHE) system as a basis for organizing her home and her life. She adds humor, spunk, and a dose of common sense to her advice, but be prepared — FlyLady does not allow whining.

First, you join as a FlyBaby. You will receive your e-mail “Welcome Letter” from FlyLady instructing you on how to get started. You will also receive regular e-mail reminders from FlyLady about zones, decluttering, laundry, shoes (honestly, shoes are very important here!) and more. Don’t feel overwhelmed! FlyLady will keep you on track using small baby steps. And FlyBabies — no peeking at all of the routines, etc., shown on the FlyLady website. You are just getting started!

Now, as you progress, Flylady will send you e-mails to help you develop routines to get you going in the morning and to send you off to sleep in the evening. She’s tough here —routines are very important! It takes 21 days to form a habit, but for SHEs, it takes 28 days. FlyLady is going to insist you shine your sink, too — you’ll soon find out why!

Decluttering is next. FlyLady will help you declutter your house using Hot Spot Fire Drills and the 27-Fling Boogie. If the thought of decluttering your home is overwhelming, don’t worry — Flylady has been there and knows what you are going through! In fact, FlyLady still has her own “dungeon” of clutter she is working on!

It doesn’t matter whether you are a man or a woman, single or married, working in or out of the home, have kids or not — this can work for you. You can easily adapt FlyLady’s system to fit your own lifestyle. You will find that, with time, your house and life will pull together.

“My prayer for all my fellow SHEs is that each finds happiness and pride in ourselves and our accomplishments. That we raise our children to be good, productive, and happy people. And that we light up a room with our smile.” – FlyLady

I've used FlyLady before, but never consistently. I remember using it a few years ago when I was a high school band director. It was a band contest day and I woke up, made my bed, cleaned my bathroom and put a load of laundry in the washer... all before I left for the day! When I was on the way to school I remember thinking, "Wow... that was strange!"

The new, beautiful flooring in my home has inspired me to want to keep my house looking nice. I love the feeling of walking into a clean home after a long day almost as much as I love waking up in a clean house.

Anyway- my resolution is to have a home that is always welcoming and inviting to everyone... especially me, Jason, Grayson and Gordo! 

Detox Diet

Here is what I feel like after all of the eating I've done recently:

You know what that means, right??? 

McFatty Monday will be returning next week!! I'm planning to do this New Year's Detox Diet on Monday-Friday (Wow... I hope I can do it that long!).  I'm hoping the detox will be a great jump start to a healthy 2012 for me!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was wonderful once again...

Jason had to work on Christmas Day, but he was able to stop by the house to see what Santa brought Grayson, open his own gifts, and enjoy some delicious breakfast casserole. It was so much fun watching Grayson really get into Christmas this year... and I think he'll understand even more next year!!

Santa's Goodies for Grayster!

His first words when he came downstairs were, "Oh My Goodness"!!

Lego Duplo Blocks were a big hit!

Jason got a new electric razor, wool coat, gamecocks t-shirt, Clemson/Carolina rivalry book, and a pocket knife. 

Grayson loves his daddy!!

And... after checking out all of those toys, Grayster went right back to his notebook and crayon! 

Gordo was NOT impressed.

This is when we figured out that Grayson needed his nap EARLY!! 

Grayson and I had Christmas lunch/dinner at Mom and Dad's house with Grandma, Mom, Dad, Kelsey, Gary, Shelley, Dori, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Doug, and Scott. 

Grayson got a rocking horse and a radio flyer wagon from Grandma and Papa!

Grayson and Gary

Aunt Lucy and Dad

Merry Christmas from Rebel! 

Later that evening, Jason joined us at Mom and Dad's for our big gathering with Mom's side of the family. 

You can find even more pictures of our Christmas 2011 here!

Christmas Cookies

A few days ago I decided that I really wanted to start the tradition of baking cookies for Santa each year. Grayson was a hard sell on the idea. This was for two reasons:

1. He is kind of scared of the whole "Santa comes to your house when you're sleeping thing". Adding cookies on top of that pretty much sets him over the top. 

2. Why would he want to bake someone else cookies??? 

Lucky for me, several of his favorite cartoon characters have made cookies for Santa this week. Today he decided that he would participate! :) 

He did some working... 

But he was mostly interested in eating.

Wells Family Breakfast Casserole

Okay... this morning I sent a text to my friend in a panic! I could NOT find her husband's wonderful breakfast casserole recipe and I want it for Christmas morning!! She was so good to send it to me, and she told me that someone else had already asked for it this morning!

So this NEVER happens again, I'm putting the recipe on the blog. Just send all of your love offering money to the Wells Family, because this recipe is AWESOME!!!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of sausage (I like Neese's HOT)
8 oz cream cheese
4 eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 cans crescent rolls
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Brown 2 pounds of sausage and drain. Mix in 8 ounces of softened cream cheese.
2. In a separate bowl, beat 4 eggs. Mix in salt and pepper to taste, 3/4 cups of milk, and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.
3. Lay 1 can of crescent rolls out in pan (13x9 is fine) and then layer in sausage/ cream cheese. Pour eggs/ mozzarella evenly over sausage and then lay the other can of crescent rolls over top.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees and enjoy!!

Notes:
I like to do steps 1-3 the night before. Then I just refrigerate overnight and bake first thing in the morning!