How Does Your Garden Grow?

Two weeks ago we decided to start a little gardening project. We found a seed starting kit at Walmart and decided to try growing our own herbs.

All we had to do was add water and wait for the dirt to swell up, then add seeds...

..put the lid on and wait.

Two weeks later, this is what we have!

It worked so well that we decided to start some vegetables today. Here's the pan just after we added water.

While we were waiting for the little pods to swell up, I made some labels.

Look how much they grow! Time to plant the seeds...

...and wait some more...

If all goes well, we should have a great garden this summer!

It's Your Turn

Ryan: "Honey, it's your turn to take out the trash."

Is he joking? Really? I never (well rarely) take out the trash because I do the majority of the other chores around the house...Not because Ryan won't, but because I like things done a certain way, and it is less work if I just do it myself the first time around.

Me: "Then it's your turn to clean the bathrooms and the kitchen, dust, vacuum, and do the laundry."

He took out the trash. And there was peace in the Wood household.

The End.

Spring Hair Cut

Okay, I know it's a little early to be saying the "S" word, but it is about time to start some of the yearly Spring rituals. Duke's haircut was one of the first items on the list. His winter coat was beyond scraggly, so he had a trip to the groomer this week. Here he is sporting his new scarf and freshly cut coat...He probably lost 5 lbs of hair!

I wish I had a before picture because he seriously looks like a completely different dog. He's so handsome! :)

The Self Challenge

It's time for the Self Challenge! I look forward to it every year because January and February are the most difficult months of the year for me to stick to a regular workout schedule...mostly because of the cold weather and my aversion to treadmills (I would rather run in the snow anyday than get on a boring treadmill), and by the time the Challenge rolls around, I'm ready to ramp up my routine and make things interesting again. The Self Challenge always starts at the end of February and lasts for 3 months...leading right up to swimsuit weather (not that I have EVER felt ready for a swimsuit...but it may help a little).

This year, the Challenge is starting out with some serious cardio sessions...up to 75 minutes 2 days per week, 60 minutes once, and 45 minutes 2 more days of the week...who has time for that? I do plan to continue taking pilates 2 nights per week like I have been since October. The 60 minutes sessions are great for strength and my core, bad for the time left for cardio. Hmm..It could be tricky this time, but I guess that's why they call it a challenge, huh?

There is also a meal guide with some recipe ideas. I'm pretty good about logging my food and watching my calorie intake except for my Mexican food binges on the weekends and occasional weekend baking sessions leaving me with way too many sweets sitting around my kitchen, or the weekend movie rentals with boxes of movie candy....does anyone see a pattern here? Weekends are my pitfall...but I was soo good all week...Anybody with me?

I'll try to do better over the next few months...and I'll let you know how it goes. Is anyone else doing the Challenge? www.self.com/challenge

Happy Valentine's Day

In honor of the day of love, here are just a few pictures that make my heart feel all warm and fuzzy:

I hope everyone had a wonderful day with the one(s) you love.

Hugs and love,

Super Bowl Sunday

Today was a special day...and not just because of the Super Bowl. We celebrated my niece's first birthday! She was too cute! I can't believe it has been a year since she arrived...check out the Family of Four blog (link to the right) for her birthday post and stay tuned because I'm sure there will be party details posted soon!

Ryan and I stayed in for the game. We had some wings to cook and some dips to eat, so we stuffed our faces, watched the commercials and the Who, and fast-forwarded through the game and said woohooo! when the Saints won (I picked them cuz I love the city of New Orleans..I don't know why Ryan picked them...we don't really follow pro football). Anyway, here is the spread on the ottoman...

Wings...mmm...the smell alone will open up your sinuses.

And to cool things down...and eat something green...

We made these last night. Ritz cracker-peanut butter sandwiches dipped in chocolate and drizzled in white chocolate...Ryan had to have the drizzle for presentation ;).

And the reverse...These are good enough to share and pretty enough to put behind a glass counter at a candy shop...

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Dashing through the snow...

...in a 4-wheel ATV.

Over the hills we go,
Look at the beautiful trees!


Ok...I'll stop. This is a ride in the 10-12 inches of snow we had last weekend. We went down our road to the lake, then over to my parents farm to do some donuts in the bottom (can anyone define bottom in this context?...not real sure how to explain it other than a low-lying..as in elevation...field).

In this context..bottom- meets-snow.
In this context, we were trying to see if tree would meet bottom-of-pond...or at least break the ice...didn't work.

So pretty...

The snow finally melted over the past few days, but there is a chance for some more in the morning. We'll wait and see!