How Many Things Can a Girl Cram In a Day?

I have really been feeding my creative side with the Project 182 and 30 Days of Thankful efforts and I am finding that I am ravenous for more. For a couple of years now, I have followed professional blogger and scrapper Ali Edwards' blog and have been so impressed with her work. My impulsive side would love to go out and create a whole studio just like she has, but then I remember that it's her job to have that. One of the cool things that she creates is a December Daily photo album. It's a project that helps you document and savor the season and she's meticulous in how she sets up all of the pages in advance of December, so that each day in December she can just incorporate her photographs and any journaling. The method is brilliant and allows the project to run without taking over your life or being burdensome.

It seems fitting in a year that I would tackle Project 182, I would also take on a December Daily. My version will be all digital, though. As I don't have the energy to go out and buy a bunch of stuff, and it seems tidier and more my style to do it all online. So, stay tuned this month for not only my daily photo, buy a snapshot of my December Daily, that once complete, will be produced as a 12 x12 photo book.

I am sooooo very excited! Here I go...

30 Days of Thankful Gets a Book Deal

So that the project may continue.

Day 30 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for THIS EXERCISE IN GRATITUDE. I was reminded that each day has a gift for us. Certainly, some days it's harder to find that golden nugget, but it's there--and I relished discovering it.

The Power of Facebook: This is Veronica

Veronica and I were Resident Advisors together at the University of Arizona. When we weren't policing student behavior, we were playing cards, laughing, sharing stories and telling jokes. I graduated and left Tucson for Phoenix and Veronica and I remained in touch for about a year or so. Fast forward 14 years and the advent of FB and reconnection with the Tucson clan, of which Veronica was one. We e-mailed and did some minor catching up, filling in some of the gaps of the past decade and then some. She was in town a couple of months ago, but we couldn't coordinate our schedules.

Imagine my delight last week when a post appeared on my FB wall that Veronica would be in town for the Thanksgiving weekend and would I be free to meet up?

Heck yes!

So, today was the day and Wildflower Bread Co. was the place.

Within seconds I saw that Veronica is still the awesome person I knew her to be. She radiates positive energy and I felt it with her generous bear hug right in the middle of the parking lot (thank goodness for no oncoming traffic!).

It was just like old times, without the dorm walls, students or a deck of cards. We joked and filled in the gaps even more. We laughed and teased and noshed and even squeezed in a little shopping. As you can see, she's gorgeous as ever and she also a very accomplished woman in the tech world--quickly judging my Canon Digital SLR but unwilling to pony up one of her supposedly better Sony cameras, LOL.

The two hours we had RACED by and I know I could have chatted for more. She's back in December and we are committed for another get together and more hang time. Great to see you, Vero!

Day 29 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for A SIMPLY GREAT DAY. A nice capper to this fun-filled holiday weekend.

The Power of Facebook: This is Cynthia

She and I met at work in the mid-late 90s. We instantly bonded over a shared love of arts, movie, culture and entertainment. She's wicked smart, super creative and wildly passionate about a lot of things. In the past, we have clashed. As wildly passionate Libras can do. Our scales got out of balance. Fast forward a couple of years to the world of Facebook. She sought me out and we started chatting, joking, playing endless games of Scrabble and lol'ing online.

A couple of weeks ago, Cynthia sent me a sweet e-mail and request to reconnect. Tonight, she and I did that--with another mutual friend--over humuus plates (for them) and a pita cheesesteak (for me), a Starbucks and trip to the movies. It was as if no time had passed and we fell right back into our conversational groove.

Despite having a rough week, she was up for an unconventional photo and I decided on her hands. It's perfectly Cynthia. Her hands are her creators, of mosaics, jewelry, musical mixes, virtual training and soon-to-be-photo books. Perfect pic, perfect night!

Day 28 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for SOME TIME TO MYSELF. It has been a busy holiday weekend and just a couple hours of quiet time has been so restorative.

The Perfect Friday Night Play Date

My good friend, and former boss, Mindy is in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and she set up an open house for several of us to bring the fam and chill at her hotel. The adults caught up, noshed on some great treats from AJs and the kids did what kids do best, eat ice cream and play video games. I think E wanted to prove to me that he's old enough for a Nintendo DS, his gift of choice for Santa this year. How did we go from a cookie two years ago to a major video game?

Day 27 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for BEAUTIFUL FALL WEATHER IN THE DESERT. It was gorgeous today. A perfect day to be outside! Thankfully, for a good portion of today, we were at the park on a play date with some good friends. Prior to that it was open bounce at a local bounce place and lunch at Paradise Bakery. Yep, it was pretty much paradise!

A Place for Everyone

And everyone almost in their place. Plus, some fun shots from the day E, my mom and I shared while spending Thanksgiving with our good friends.

Day 26 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for TRADITIONS, both preserving the old and embracing the new. I hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Seasonal Affects

Day 25 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for the SIMPLE PLEASURES A DAY CAN BRING. A nice hand-in-hand walk with my son, snuggling together to watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, a perfectly blended chai, moments of laughter and moments of reflection.

Pouty Pilgrim

Today was E's Fall Feast, a gathering of four of Kindergarten classes, all dressed for Thanksgiving and ready to eat the cornucopia of fruit and muffins laid before them. E wanted seconds when the line for first wasn't even through. Not sure if you can tell how he feels about that since he's so good at hiding his emotions.

Day 24 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for FABULOUS TEAMMATES! Makes my job as a manager infinitely easier when you have a committed team of smart, creative, accountable and fun people.

I Gots it Bad...

Day 23 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for EASY-TO-MAKE COMFORT FOOD. Nothing beats tomato soup and a grilled ham and cheese sandwich after a long day.

Day 22 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for BOLD STORY TELLERS. Such an impactful story Sapphire created when she wrote PUSH and to see it translated into the big screen by Lee Daniels as PRECIOUS was simply amazing. I am working on the review that will be published soon on www.allangiven.com. Stay tuned for more.

The Power of Facebook: This is Cheri

Cheri and I went to high school together. We ran in different circles; and, I always remembered her to be very nice. Fast forward 20 years, a high school reunion, and a Facebook friending. We briefly saw each other at Scotty Jeffers' memorial service and started e-mailing. After some chit-chatting we agreed a get together was in order and why not a walk in the park and a trip to Starbucks to really catch up?

Today was our day and what a nice get together it was. Cheri was as nice as I remember her to be and it turns out we had more in common than our differing high school circles did back in the day. She's funny, a fiercely passionate mama, resourceful and perhaps the world's leading expert on gluten-free living next to my friend Eden.

I wouldn't have ever thought our paths would cross these many years later. Why would they? But with this little college-networking site cum social networking phenomenon allowed us to do just that.

And, I am so glad they did. :)

Classic game of Thumb Wars

E = 3, Mommy = 0.

Day 21 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful MY DIGITAL CAMERA AND THE DELETE KEY. Together, you can confidently and haphazardly take hundreds of photos in an attempt to capture THE PERFECT SHOT. That was the situation today during Operation Christmas Card Photo Shoot. I am even considering posting a bloopers album.

When Grammar Girls Go Gangsta

I am a big reader, lover of words and overall word nerd. I am also what some might call a grammar geek, but I prefer warrior. Semantics. So in light of all of this, imagine my delight when tonight I was able to attend Mignon Fogarty's (THE Grammar Girl, herself!) appearance at locally owned Changing Hands Bookstore for new book "The Grammar Devotional!"

My friends and I had a blast oohing and ahhing over her knowledge and relishing the Q and A period she held with the audience. To top things off, in addition to getting signed books (with "Mind your p's and q's" inscribed) she passed out Grammar Girl tattoos. Yeah baby! I was in hog heaven.

Want to know more about Grammar Girl? her rockin' site.

Day 20 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for the FLEXIBILITY I have in my life. It affords me so much -- time to focus on what matters, time to focus on my son, time to focus on myself.

Blinded by the Light

aka: OVER-EXPOSED. Sometimes playing with your camera settings when you have know idea what you are doing can create a cool result.

Day 19 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for BEING ABLE TO LAUGH AT MYSELF. A couple of gaffes today proved more palatable for all involved when I was able to chuckle through it.

Bashful Boy

Or sleepy boy. Or caught at just the right moment boy. No matter how you classify it, he's my sweet Sammy boy.

Day 18 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for TOTALLY RANDOM, OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE, COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED ACTS OF KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY. Especially when they come on a day you need a soft spot to fall, a sliver of light, or just a helping hand.

Progress!

See my Day 17 of the 30 Days of Thankful Project below...

Day 17 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for PROGRESS. E had his second follow up at the Burn Center this morning and received a fantastic prognosis! We have moved from medicated dressings twice per day, to just moisturizing dressings once per day. Looks like one more follow up on 11/23 and then no more dressings at all!

Mother and Son

A wonderful gift at a time I needed it most.

Day 16 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS, even--and maybe most especially--the difficult ones. When handled constructively, they can yield the most positive results.

Photo-a-Day Gam Play: What is this?

Day 15 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for LAZY SUNDAYS. Sleeping in, lunch with gal pals, pie making and Go Fish with the kiddo round it all out.

Mugging for Scotty

Today was our dear friend Scotty Jeffers' memorial service. The friends and family that put it together did such a wonderful job and one that would have made Scotty proud. We laughed, we cried and laughed some more. I think we all expected Scotty to come out on the stage and say, "Gotcha!" When that didn't happen, we wiped our eyes, pinched our cheeks for color and mugged for the camera the way he would want us too. Thankfully, I didn't fall over backward taking this!

Rest in peace, Sweet Scotty.

Day 14 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for WATERPROOF MASCARA. The service for Scotty today was wonderful with a lot of tears and priceless memories shared. It may have been an overcast and drizzly morning, but that auditorium was so bright and shiny and full of Scotty sunshine!

Holiday Cheer for the Heroes

Today I had the opportunity to volunteer in E's class and coordinated with his teacher to bring in some of my company's holiday cards the the troops. It's an initiative we do every year to send cards to deployed Service members who cannot be home with their friends and family for the holiday season. I have always wanted to have E participate in something like this and his teacher and classmates were game for it.

His teacher explained what the cards were for and had them brainstorm some reasons they might thank a soldier.

"For saving our country."

"For protecting us."

"For protecting our flowers."

Were the answers emerging from circle time. Arming them with a card and a pencil, the kids went to work with a little help from the adults in the room. The end results were so sweet and wonderful, my favorite being from one of E's classmates:

"Dear Soldier," it read.

"I really like you soldier. From, B."

Ahhhhh... melting heart.

Of course for documentation and sentimentality, though, I had to photograph E's card.

It's all sweetness and light too.

Day 13 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for PREPACKAGED FOOD. It's the end of a long week and I don't have the energy to cook or go out. Thank goodness for Kashi pizza and some vegetables lingering around the house.

Amuse-bouche, dee-loosh!

My second fancy meal of the week, this time at noca. It's a place I have wanted to try, but couldn't ever seem to get over to it. It was WELL WORTH the wait. Here's the starter: An amuse-bouche (a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre) of avocado mousse with radish and pine nuts. It was a great precursor to all we would be served, and it was sign that all would be well in the world that day.

Day 12 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for A PERFECT MIDDAY BREAK. Needed to scoot out of the office and was able to do so with some good friends. The good food at King Gyro didn't hurt either.

Old Glory

Day 11 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for MY FREEDOM. "Let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free." Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

For Starters

The starting salad course at the annual Arizona Women's Education & Employment luncheon. It is as good as it looks.

Day 10 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for WINDING DOWN. It has been a long and eventful day and I am so looking forward to the small stretch of the evening that is quiet and all my own to make of it whatever I want.

Day 10 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Day 10 of the 30 Days of Thankful Project. Today I am thankful for WINDING DOWN. It has been a long and eventful day and I am so looking forward to the small stretch of the evening that is quiet and all my own to make of it whatever I want.

Ball of Light

Extreme close up of a light at The Cheesecake Factory, the location of this month's book club.

Day 9 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for ACCESS TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. Seems as though the Burn Center folks know their stuff (good thing considering our center is ranked 2nd best in the nation!). We have a new course of treatment that should aid in faster healing for the kiddo. It's still a 1-2 month recovery process, but now we have the right supplies and action plan.

My Little Super Hero

Here is Mister Super Trooper himself! Such a brave young man!

Coincidentally, or not, today he also received a goody bag from a birthday party he attended. In that bag was a wristaband with the word COURAGE on it. So appropriate. So him. I had to make a special photo collage celebrating this brave kiddo.

Day 8 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Last night while having friends over, E had an accident in Gramma Kathy's kitchen that resulted in a second-degree burn when he reached for the lid of a hot pot on the stove. E's Dad and my mom took him to the ER and despite a lot of monster tears, he braved through the pain (the Tylenol with Codeine helps, for sure) and woke up today ready to take on the world. For this, I am thankful today for the RESILIENCE OF CHILDREN. E's burn is pretty bad, but in the best spot on his hand to get burned. Despite the injury, nothing slows this kid down. He kept his commitment to attend a friend's birthday party at the zoo today and was as rambunctious as ever. He's my light, my love, my hero.

Day 7 of the 30 Days of Thankful

Today I am thankful for the STRONG, FUN, BEAUTIFUL, SMART WOMEN IN MY LIFE. Tonight was a special night of bringing a great group of women together for some great food, photo booking fun and laughter. I am so fortunate to be so well connected to so many great ladies!

And, as an added bonus: Here is my first-ever photo recipe of Hungry Girl's Pumpkin Pudding Cupcakes

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and then...Place 2 cups moist-style yellow cake mix (1/2 of an 18.25 oz. box) into a large bowl:


Add 1 cup canned pure pumpkin:


1/3 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute:


2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup:


2 teaspoons cinnamon:


2 packets Splenda No Calorie Sweetener:


1/8 teaspoon of salt:


Your batter will look like this:


So, grab a whisk and start using it:


And using it (for about two minutes or until all the ingredients are mixed together):


Once mixed, it will look like this:


Line your muffin pan with baking cups:


Evenly spoon batter into the baking cups:


Place into the oven and bake at 350 for about 12 minutes (until the cupcakes have puffed up but still appear a little gooey on top). They will come out looking like this:


Allow to cool. When ready to frost, place six caramel cubes and 4 teaspoons of light vanilla soymilk into a microwaveable glass:


Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, take out and stir:


Continue heating and stirring in increments of 30 seconds. It will get pretty steamy:


It might be a little soupy, so once all the caramel is melted, let it sit for 5 or so minutes to thicken up. Then spoon it onto you cupcakes:


Behold their beauty. Serve and expects sneaks for seconds!


Here's the full list of ingredients for a quick copy and paste. Trust me. You won't ever be sorry you made these. They are so easy, so delicious and healthy too! Only 108 calories; 2g fat; 188mg sodium; 21g carbs; .5g fiber; 12g sugar; 2g protein!

For Cupcakes
2 cups moist-style yellow cake mix (1/2 of an 18.25-ounce box)
1 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/3 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
2 tablespoons sugar-free maple syrup
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 packets Splenda No Calorie Sweetner
1/8 teaspoon salt

For Topping
6 cubes chewy caramel squares
4 teaspoons light vanilla soymilk