Random January fun

I love making crafty things but I'm not very great at it. I really like making cards. Somehow it just feels easier than making scrapbook pages. This card is for my step-grandma.
A friend and I had a fun girls night. We did dinner, a movie, and a craft. I'll have to post a picture of what we made next time.

Backwards day at preschool. He wore his shirt, coat, and hat backwards. I tried to have him wear his backpack on his front but he started to cry.

When I was little some of my favorite cookies that my grandma would make were carrot cookies. They really don't taste anything like carrot cake (bleh). If you would like to try something new, here is the recipe:

Cookies:

2/3 C shortening
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 C sugar
2 c flour
1 egg
2 tsp baking powder
1C grated raw carrots
1/2 tsp salt
Blend shortening and sugar. Add beaten egg and beat until fluffy. Add grated carrots and vanilla, beat. Sift dry ingredients together and add to first mixture. If too stiff add 1T mild. Drop from tsp onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Frosting:
1/2 C sugar 1/4 C evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 cube butter
pinch of salt zest and juice of 1 orange
Bring to a boil for 2 minutes then add 3/4 of a pound of powdered sugar.

tips: when I make the frosting recipe it is ALWAYS too much but this is what the recipe says. I would suggest making a double batch of cookies or halving the frosting recipe. Anytime I bake cookies I HATE washing the pans afterward so I put tin foil down first. It makes washing much easier. I also do this when we heat chicken wings in the oven for the boys.

Talon and I made these treats for his class (since he's in preschool and it's still OK to bring homemade treats). It was orange day.

Speaking of recipes... my brother-in-law Zac worked in Alaska all summer and sent home TONS of Halibut and Salmon. We've been having fun finding new recipes for it. Chris discovered an awesome curry flavored one. You can find it here. I didn't take a picture when I made it. It is now my favorite fish recipe...well it's close with fish tacos but they are a PAIN to make. The curry was super easy.


Later during orange day...
we SOOO needed a battle ax.

We went to Dell Taco and played on the playground. Then headed to game stop and bought Kaila a game called Viva Pinata. THEN we went to Walmart where we discovered more awesome Nerf weapons. We've already got the swords. I'm surprised they didn't come kick Chris and the kids out for playing with the toys for an hour. Anyway, to explain the picture Talon was coloring with markers and (accidentally???) made that long mark on his forehead. Chris thought it was funny so he added more "war paint". LOL

Mmm, blue sugared popcorn. K and I were bored so we made this while T napped. Again, on tin foil.

Do you ever feel like the harder you try the more you fail? It doesn't really make sense if you think about it but that's kinda how I feel about getting myself to the gym and exercising. I did so well way back in 2008. I lost about 25 lbs. In 2009 I did ok off and on and lost another 10 lbs. So far this month I have no motivation. Maybe it's because I'm not a morning person and when it's so dark and freezing on winter mornings I really hate mornings. Lately I just don't want to go at night either. I feel too sleepy. I can't imagine how un-motivated I will feel 10 years from now! Hmmm just gotta suck it up and do it I guess.