Starting out the New Year with a whimper, some tears and a Bang.

I have officially lost my mind. Apparently being on strong pain killers and playing video games the past few days does that to a person . I am, by nature,  a disorganized, laid-back procrastinator. To mess with that though, I went and made a ‘life planner’. To help with growing this little blog of mine and with my writing. To help (hopefully) with cleaning and starting up menu planning.  I also put in a ‘grocery price list’ to start tracking our grocery costs and help me find out where the best prices are for things. I am hoping it helps save some money in the food department! I love the idea of being organized, so maybe this will be the beginning of good things.  Once I get it all together, I’ll share it with all of you!

first put-together of the planner!

With the beginning of the new year, and a possibly-over-positive outlook on how I’ll be feeling, I have filled up my calendar with blog and writing commitments. A six month series to a first draft for my historical novel i’ve been working on ; a creative group on google plus is starting up again ; a couple of book reviews; a possible collaberation with my brother on a novel,  and I’m pretty sure there’s a few other things. Also planned a craft party with a few friends later this month that I still need to decide what I’m going to make! I’m contemplating these projects:  winter cheeks stick , hair gel or a chapstick holder. But I am really leaning toward these storage boxes, where you cover cardboard boxes with burlap! I’m wanting to make some small ones for our closet – for my collection of scarves and possibly for my sweaters as well. Of course, if I do that one, I’d better start saving some boxes!

For the first time ever (I’m completely free…. you were thinking it, I just helped),I made almond milk this morning!! It was so easy and fun and I’m loving the fact that there are no chemical garbely-gooks in it!! Once I have played with the recipe and gotten it just so, you can look for it here on the blog! I do want to invest in a nut bag though, using cheesecloth worked but I had to be careful that i didn’t drop bits of the pulp back in the milk. Which reminds me of another reason I am loving this, and that is that there is absolutely no waste – you can use the pulp as well! As almond meal, or grind it up (once you’ve dehydrated it, of course!) for almond flour.

Another project I’m looking forward to has something to do with this :

That’s right – circular knitting needles. I am going to knit me some slipper socks! I have never used circular ones, and am at the lowest level of beginner in knitting, so I am hopeful that they are a good first-project to do. If not and if any of you wonderful readers are experienced knitters, do you have any suggestions for me? I would be so grateful to hear them!

My last post I mentioned that I have some new plans and series coming to SGL. One of them will be starting very soon – as soon as I’ve gotten my schedule figured out and the first post written – and that is focused on the virtues that I want to cultivate in my own life and to encourage all of you to grow in as well! The Lord has been urging me gently to start this series and I feel that I am finally ready. I also want to start a monthly short story sharing – or parts of my novel I’m writing because I am super excited about it! I hope that’s enough info to wet your appetite and bring you back!

Thanks for stopping by,

Laura Starr

*quick note, i do not normally play video games that much but with recovering from the holidays and traveling and now these blasted debilitating migraines, I’ve found they are good to take my mind off the pain and keep me on the couch =) just so you don’t think i’m always playing video games!

** I had to share this photo of my dog and her friend that came over to play…errrr, sleep. Aren’t they cute? Two old girls just chillin’

Tags: almond milk, knitting, life planner, migraines, new year