So did we all survive the first week of January???  I  made it, I think, assuming of course I get through Friday (although I still have about 100 emails waiting for replies – so sorry everyone!!)!  I did manage to take the Littles out in the double jogger today for a nice long walk and park time though, a first in a long time.  Figured I might as well start working on that baby weight that is going to need to come off in March once #3 arrives!

Thought I would share a few FAVORITE things that I saw this week.  The first is from the blog Making it Lovely.  MAN this girl has got her design eye going!  Check out her new office makeover, LOVE it!  What an inspiring place to be able to work, plus have her babe play next to her.  (I miss the days I could do that….Addie is in EVERY drawer, on my lap, on my computer, doodling on my “to do” lists…just doesn’t work anymore.)  But this is truly beautiful!

Definitely check out Nicole’s blog, Making it Lovely for more photos and to see what budget saving tricks she used.  A lot of the pieces are from IKEA.  I love being pleasantly surprised by the design and price of items at IKEA!  I think Nicole’s studio is the room she moved things around in, and I loved it before as well! Nicole has this fabulous feature on her site called “Transforming the so-so”.  She shows you her front porch, kitchen remodel, office makeover, etc.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her eye and her mix of patterns and colors.  Well worth checking out and getting inspired!  Her site let’s you share in the journey of making her home lovely….what a wonderful way to say that!!  You should also check out her stationary site, “Pink Loves Brown”. (And no, Nicole does not know me from Adam, but I absolutely adore her site and wanted to share a favorite).

The next favorite thing is one that I saw on the Just Spotted blog on Thursday.  Check out their post for all the details and further info, but here is the nutshell:

“Disney parks is hoping to inspire 1 million people to perform a day of volunteer service to a participating organization in their community during 2010, by giving them a FREE, one-day, one-theme park admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.”

What makes this a FAVORITE for me is the two-fer factor.  By helping out and doing your part to help your community, you can help SaveOurbeach.org, a local favorite service organization that dedicates their time to keeping our beautiful Southern California beaches clean!  They provide everything you need, they just need your set of hands and extra man, mom, and kid power! Then your off and running to Disneyland to celebrate your good deed!  All the registration details, etc are all at Just Spotted.  Definitely check it out!!

My third favorite thing is to reward yourself, remember, New Year, New You!  If you feel like you got a head start on your New Years goals this week then you should DEFINITELY take some time for yourself this weekend.  Send the kids for some park time with Dad and grab a mani/pedi…splurge on that extra long foot rub!!  Or if leaving the house is too challenging, order some note cards for yourself or a return address stamp….I love these little personalized items!  They make mundane tasks seem so much more fun!

Enjoy your weekend….check out the planner for a new menu and shopping list.  Would love to hear what your weekly menus are like, or any suggestions you have!  Happy Friday! See you all back on Monday.