100th Day of School Celebration

One of my favorite Ivy Lane Designs customers, and all around nice person and Supermom, Donna, requested individually wrapped 1, 0 and 0 crayons to be given as party favors at her son Max's 100th Day of School Celebration.  She let me know what she wanted the toppers to say, and shared with me Max's school colors; blue and yellow/gold.  

I immediately went to work and could not be happier with the end result!  Donna's reaction?  "They look fantastic!!!!!!!!  YOU ROCK!"    

~Merrill ♥    

DC or Bust, Baby! Fifty-Seventh Presidential Inauguration

On November 6, 2012, our daughter voted in her very first Presidential election.  We were as proud as proud could be!  You can read about it HERE.  My husband and I then thought what better way to complete the circle than to take our now not-so-little girl to the Presidential Inauguration.  

This Monday, we will be heading to DC, rain or shine, sleet or snow.  We will be there, in our long underwear and wool socks, overcoming our fear of chemical toilets, to offer support and congratulations to President Obama.  Another wonderfully delightful rite of passage!

I'm working on my list of things not to forget, as temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s.  In no particular order:

• long underwear
• wool thrift shop sweater
• hand and feet warmers
• hat, gloves
• scarf
• tissues
• down coat with hood
• wool socks
• boots
• blanket
• water bottles
• lunch
• snacks
• water bottles
• lip balm
• camera
• extra camera battery
• binoculars 

...I'm sure I'll think of a few more things.

Fun with An Empty Toilet Paper Roll

In our family, we are all about playing harmless practical jokes on one another.  To open the refrigerator to find a large life-like plastic monkey staring back at you would not be unusual.  This morning, it's cold outside and my lovely daughter is home from school.  The PERFECT time for a wee gag.  Just follow the pictorial for how you too can surprise and amaze your family members using only an empty toilet paper roll and some water.

My daughter got me when she hid the creepy monkey in our refrigerator.

Buddha, who is not actually a Buddha but that's what we call him, has traveled across the country hidden away in the luggage of family members.  He's been left on the front seat of cars, in showers ... you name it!

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

~Charlie Chaplin

~Merrill ♥    

36 Diet Cookbooks: Lose Weight and Feel Great!

I love cookbooks!  Healthy vegan cooking is my latest interest, ever since my beloved jumped feet first into a plant-based diet.  He's now lost 40 lbs. without even trying!  Rather than take my chances and buy cookbooks that I may never use, I audition them, thanks to my local library.  Test drive before you buy.

Click on the titles listed below for a description of each cookbook.  Our library allows us to reserve books online for free, which is one of the best deals around!

Stack #1:

• The Kind Diet 
• You Won't Believe It's Vegan
• This Crazy Vegan Life
• Blissful Bites 
• The 30 Minute Vegan
• Vegan Indian Cooking 
• New Vegetarian Cooking
• Vegan Cooking for Carnivores (this is the first book from those auditioned that I bought.  It's written by Ellen's personal chef.  Other than it being a little light on the spices, everything I have made has been delicious).  
  

Stack #2:

• Vegan Holiday Kitchen
• Short-Cut Vegan
• Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons
• The 30 Minute Vegan's Taste of the East 
• The Vegan Table 
• Simple Vegan 
• The Inspired Vegan

Stack #3:

• The Accidental Vegan
• Refresh 
• Vegan Family Meals 
• Sweet Vegan 
• Babycakes Covers the Classics 
• How it All Vegan 
• Quick and Easy Vegan Bake Sale 
• Appetite for Reduction 
• The Sexy Vegan Cookbook (This is my daughter's favorite of the bunch.  She made the pumpkin roll, which is to die for!)
• Vegan Soul Kitchen 
• Vegan Lunch Box

Stack #4:

• 125 Best Vegan Recipes 
• The Vegan Family Cookbook 
• The Best Veggie Burgers on the Planet 
• Main Street Vegan 
• Let Them Eat Vegan 
• Sweet & Easy Vegan 
• Speed Vegan 
• Gluten-Free Vegan Comfort Food 
• Great Chefs Cook Vegan

Here's to healthy cooking and eating!

~Merrill ♥