the giraffe life

January Cure:  I bit off more than I could chew with Apartment Therapy's January Cure . I loved the concept and the inspiration, but the daily project part was overwhelming. So, I looked over the monthly schedule and picked a few that I could handle - like creating an outbox, buying art to frame, and organizing the medicine stash. I'm happy with what I accomplished and will continue to work on the ideas I like - but with a much less stressful timeline. 7 books:  You can see the books I read here . So happy I pushed myself because I lucked out and read a lot of good books this month (and it was much more fun than fretting over the January Cure ;) ). The best was Code Name Verity , which I considering reviewing, but this and this  and  this say it better than I ever could. House scrapbook:  My parents were talking about how some of the rooms in their house have changed over the years, and it inspired me to take pictures of my home and make a house scrapbo...

linking up here and here

I saw this recipe in the newspaper today and couldn't resist! They are thick and chewy like a brownie, but not as rich and easier to carry - perfect! Here's my tweaked version: Brownie Cookies • 1 1/2 cups flour • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder • 4 tablespoons butter, softened (half a stick) • 4 tablespoons coconut oil, softened • 3/4 cup sugar • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions Stir together the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking powder.  In a separate bowl, cream butter, coconut oil, and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients. Put dough in a container with a lid in the fridge for about an hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the cookie dough on a floured surface. They should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick (makes about 20 cookies). Bake for about 10-12 minutes until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. Top with peanut butter or ice cream. Enjoy! ...

How do you feel about narrators?  I usually prefer books written in first person, but I have to make an exception for  The Templeton Twins Have an Idea,  written by Ellis Weiner and illustrated by Jeremy Holmes. The narrator is being forced to write this story (or so he tells us), about thirteen-year-old twins, Abigail and John. Another set of twins, Dean and Dan, kidnap Abigail and John in an effort t o convince their father to hand over one of his inventions. Resourcefulness abounds :) Each chapter includes a title page with a drawing related to the story (the diagrams sprinkled throughout were super nice - especially for people whose eyes start to glaze over when reading paragraphs describing how things are set up. I'm not actually one of those people, just guessing you know ;) ). So, on to that fabulous narrator.  The  whole kidnapping story could have felt ho-hum, but the narrator really berates you into enjoying yourself, with his general s...

I'm linking up here and here .

1. Yoga! I love how yoga makes me feel, plain and simple. I usually do it at home with my Wii, but I'm going to start taking the class offered at work, too. 2. National Geographic - my favorite magazine, hands down!  I found a box of old issues (marked FREE, so how could I resist?) in college, and have read every issue since.  The articles are always fascinating and accompanied by breathtaking photographs. 3. Popcorn - the perfect snack! I'll eat it plain, with salt, with butter, with cheese, the list goes on and on. 4. Flats! Just another sign that I'm getting old , I guess (except that I've always loved them - probably an insignificant detail ;) ). I think flats are adorable and the comfort level just can't be beat.  Flats make my feet happy :) 5. Art!  I started an art board on Pinterest and can't wait to start saving my pennies to brighten up my house. What makes you smile? This post was inspired by Margaret !

No, that's not a typo - I am planning for Valentine's Day in January. Probably makes me a little weird, but that's okay.  We have about a month left , but I saw a project idea in Martha Stewart Weddings (umm yes, I am already married, why do you ask? ;) ) that needs some lead time. Will my husband enjoy it?  Hmm, hopefully. But I'm not too worried about it. I buy him packages of dried up marshmallows , what more could he want? ;) Anyway, here it is: Click the picture to download the template. It was created with engaged couples in mind (hence its inclusion in Martha Stewart Weddings ) but I think the idea is lovely - 25 reasons why you love someone.  I was going to glue my message over the part that says "25 reasons I can't wait to marry you," but he's a smart guy and I'm sure he knows we're married.  Someone more tech-savvy than me coud probably find a way to recreate the template to change the message electronically. This is ...