Link Roundup - Cabin Fever Edition

Remember how we barely have any snow? Not anymore. Since Saturday, about 12-14" of snow has fallen, and the temperature is really starting to drop.

Goose and I bundled up and braved temperatures in the teens plus a stiff breeze to walk to the post office and scoop the walks this afternoon. The main reason for going out is because it's going to be worse tomorrow, with a high in the single digits - Wednesday, too. Scooping wouldn't have been nearly so bad if Goose hadn't have kept commenting that flopping around in the snow sure was "hard work!" :>)

I don't think I've mentioned here that I quit my job proofreading the newspaper. I miss it already, but right now I'm quite happy to not have to go anywhere. So, let's get out of the house via the interwebs.

MAKE
These Indoor No-Mess Snowballs at Frugal Fun For Boys is still making me laugh! I'm going to have to keep an eye out for white tights at the thrift shop.

Two cool tutorials from Obsessively Stitching: Squishy Rubik's Cubes Tutorial and I-Spy Blocks/Storytelling Dice.

I gotta admit, when I was a kid, I couldn't figure out an optical illusion my Grandma had hanging in her kitchen. See how to make your own J E S U S Optical Illusion at Catholic Icing - I love the sun catcher twist, too.

Hmm, this How-To Fabric Produce Bag Free PDF Pattern at Daisy Janie has me thinking ahead to next Christmas already. I love how they roll up! What do you think, sisters-in-law?

Oh, she *always* does this... Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog does something similar to what I've done but WAY cuter! This time, it's a First Sewing Basket - I made one for my youngest niece but stuck it in a repurposed plastic storage box (BORING). Guess I need to start channeling Valerie to see if I can come up with these simple but awesome tweaks! Also check out these Friendship Necklace Kits and the Printable Bird House Play Set while you're there.

Wow, this Christmas Tree Ornament Mobile at not martha is STUNNING! (Also see the How-To which makes it look not terribly difficult.)

Another wow, these Woven Cookie Star Ornaments at The Crafty Crow are really neat, and I think they could work even for preschoolers. [Note to self - do NOT start digging through the archives over there... I'll never get out!] [OK, just one - Stained Glass Poinsettia Ornaments.]

EAT
I predict Hubs will not be impressed, but I'm seriously interested in trying to make my own Wheat Meat as explained at Wise Antics of Life.

Oooh - I just realized I have all the ingredients in my fridge to make Penne with Cream Sauce from Skip to My Lou... but I don't have any pasta. Hmm. There may be some noodle making in my near future.

We're studying the letter D right now and what better timing to find a bunch of recipes for Dirt Cakes and Desserts at Tipnut! Hey, there is also a roundup of Dump Cakes, too; something of which I am a big fan as well. There are even a few recipes that include from-scratch cake instead of a mix and I will definitely be checking those out. And while we're gaining weight just looking at the screen, Lemon Cakes and Oven Baked Macaroni & Cheese.

Recommended for the January 4th feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, this Colonial Brown Bread at Catholic Cuisine looks simple and sounds delicious.

I'm thinking Sarah's Empanadas at heartland Renaissance are going to make it on our snowed-in menu rotation in short order.

Several super yummy things all rolled into one dish for this Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Potato Crust at Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks.

I've posted about homemade yogurt before, but Katie at Kitchen Stewardship has pulled together links to all her variation posts plus a few more tips and updates in this week's Monday Mission: You Can Make Homemade Yogurt! She even debunks some of your common arguments against making your own. :>) (Mine is that since I don't really like plain yogurt so I don't really know what it's supposed to taste like and thus I don't know if I did it right or not.) Katie is also Seeking the Perfect Homemade Whole Wheat Bread, and you can see the first recipe she tried at that link. Lots more to come, it sounds like.

This reminded me, it's been too long since I've made Spaetzle, this recipe from Skip To My Lou. Also check out What To Do With Leftover Candy Canes, of which there would not be any if Goose had her way. I especially love the hearts! (And I know Goose would, too.)

DO
Check out what Jen at Conversion Diary considered the 12 Best Links of 2010.

One more Tipnut link, this time 20 Things You Can Use Twice Before Tossing.

I'm not sure that I'd actually want to see the results of this, but it's an interesting concept: A Day In the Life Of... at Simply Rebekah, where you take a photo every hour of your day of what you are doing at that moment. Blog about it, then link up on February 1.

Though I've heard good things about Lakeshore Learning, I've not spent any time checking out their site until I learned there are some Free Resources including lesson plans, projects & activities, and lots of printables.

PRAY & PONDER
This Resolution Prayer at Faith & Family Live sounds like something I'd do well to consider and reconsider. (As an aside, my "resolution word" is the same as it was last year - Discipline. Wish me luck.)

Though I hope and pray that I don't need this sort of thing, I try to pay special attention to things like Baby Loss Comfort post because it's so hard to find the words when you need them. (@ Doula Patti Ramos)

Stomach bugs in little ones are never fun, but Amy at Finer Things makes some very good points in The Tyrant. It amazes me how God's grace is always there, if I only ask for it, look for it, take it.

And that's it! Can you believe it, I'm finally caught up!?! Happy clicking, friends - hope you're staying warm!