Our House in the Middle of Our Street

photocredit As Stefan and I perused our first-ever ethnic market a couple weekends ago (I know, sad), we had in mind very specific recipes from The Indian Slow Cooker in mind. I can't remember if I saw this cookbook on a blog, on Amazon under my recommendations, or at the library. Where ever it was, I remembered to write it down and add it to my holds at the library (or pick it up? who knows) and I looked it over for a first glance at what I could make my family without being too...um...dissimilar? We love Indian food, but I have only had it a handful of times, and had certainly never cooked it myself before. I thought adding ingredients to the crock pot would be a perfect mix for my and my husband's palate and easy enough for me to not screw it up. Take that back. Yeah, the first recipe I did screw up, and it wasn't for ease of recipe instruction. It was simply because I'm an idiot at times. It was a basic yellow lentil dish and I added 4 cups of water too many. Yeah....

This Monday Morning's "Visual Monday" is taken in our own back yard. A couple of pictures of our recent snow storm that plowed through all Friday night through Saturday afternoon. The amount was over a foot, the most we've got all season. With an unseasonably warm winter this year, everyone seemed happy about the storm, ready and waiting with toilet paper and groceries stocked up. Here are a few pictures from our snow day inside (and out--the boys of course). Sunday morning we enjoyed a long hour long hike around the neighborhood through the snow, and it melted a lot with warm temperatures, but I think it will be around for while! Luckily we could enjoy it inside with power, as some of the city was without, and we were lucky to only have one large branch fall in our suite-mate's lawn. Others around us weren't so lucky. We ended the morning climbing!

photocredit Every month, on the first Saturday of the month I will be giving the details of the monthly specials. There is one standard 'special' that runs every month--buy $40 worth of books and snag any of these books (they rotate monthly) for 60% off the regular sale price. There are 10 titles that are on special every month, ranging in age and content. Above, the Lift the Flap Word Book is one of the more popular books on sale this month, and at $5.00, you're saving $6.99! See the complete list of February sale titles here . This is a great buy to have on hand for a gift for a child, family relative, baby shower, or first birthday. Usborne is known for their ' flap books ', and this is one children learning vocabulary. The flaps are very sturdy and with all of my flap books that we've owned, we've never had one rip--they are made very well! They also have incentive for booking home shows and being a hostess for an Usborne consultant , and February...

My boy, mountain climbing (shovels as picks) to the top on a beautiful day. Join in with others as we remember a lovely moment from the week.

Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest This winter has been unlike any I can remember in Lincoln, with extremely sunny and warm days (today, 60s!), so there isn't a lot of playing in the snow. We've had maybe 5 inches of snow altogether from October through early January, but with it melting so quickly it's been easy to play outside daily in the sun this winter. Normally over the winter we would have the kids try to be outside at least 1 hour per day, even in freezing temperatures, to get fresh air, move around, yell, and get their energy out. This year we've been playing at parks, taking after-dinner walks, and enjoying down-time mostly outside. There are a few things I schedule every winter because, normally, it's cold, dark, and we may even be home-bound for days at a time without stuff on the calendar. A few things we participate in every winter are two classes my kids have grown to love: 1) Preschool Music at Around the Corner Music Studio . For 10 session...

photocredit Over the past couple of weeks Stefan and I have watched a number of really good movies, and I will try to share them evenly over the next month or so. They are all from different genres, but I thought this one would appeal to the most broad range of personalities. The story Moneyball is a true story about how a baseball GM and a recent Yale graduate make history with the way they make a lineup. Using crazy math skill, logic, and faith they create a team on a minuscule budget that ends up setting records left and right. Here is the trailer of this true underdog story. I think anyone can enjoy this film with it's drama, comedy, and real risk that appeals to the masses. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars for great acting, story, and emotional appeal. Watch it ; it's a night well spent.

Source: flickr.com via Bobby on Pinterest Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest Source: etsy.com via Katie on Pinterest Source: narniatheme.tumblr.com via April on Pinterest Source: flickr.com via Roxanne on Pinterest Source: topdesignmag.com via Caitlin on Pinterest This January, with very little snow-fall and temperatures rivaling early April, is still a quiet and absent month after about 5PM, when the sun goes down. I know people who work outside the home may call it mutiny to be at work before sun-up, only to be driving home on their commute to watch the sun set--if they make it, but for us at home it is a wonderful reminder of short days and how you fill them. It's another nice thing about winter: to stay at home warm and cozy and call it an evening after a brisk walk around the neighborhood to work on that late dinner digestion. I try to enjoy something about every season and short winter days are definitely up there next to "not sweating...