Why is it that winter and the colder weather always bring on the starch monkeys? Maybe its our bodies' way of adding a few extra calories to help keep us warm? No matter, nothing beats a big batch of beef and noodles to warm a tummy on a cold winter evening. I grew up on this dish and always serve it with mashed potatoes and green beans. Of course tonight is no different.

Mine aren't quite finished, but as I was looking for other's recipes, I ran across this website: http://meesosweetandspicy.blogspot.com/2008/04/moms-beef-noodles.html

She posted her mom's beef and noodles recipe, which was mighty close to the way I fix mine. Give me a bag of noodles, I will boil them into starchy goodness! Check out Meeso's recipe for beef and noodles. I thank her for posting it. Now on to the starch!

It's been my promise to myself that I would be more obedient to my blog and that's what I'm trying to do in this New Year of 2010. The movie "Julie and Julia" made me think I should have a focus on this blog. Most of my posts have been rambling... random things of what I am doing, how the weather is, my crafts, writing and all of that stuph. But then again, all of that stuph is me. What to do?

So anyone out there that actually reads my blog, for the time being, I've decided to continue on with my random ramblings. Perhaps you might get inspired from a thing or two, get a giggle out of a pun or find something that you find truly interesting that I share. If I get inspired to blog about a specific subject, so be the will of the blog gods. Until then I will remain Craftola with all of my stuph to share!

I have a secret. I am a closet chocolate-holic! Since I've been home the last two days because of the snow, yesterday was a baking day. It had been ages since I'd made a German chocolate cake with the traditional pecan and coconut frosting, so I decided to make cupcakes. Believe me, there is nothing more full of eewy-gooey goodness than these babies. The only thing I would have done differently would be to scoop out a little of the cupcake to fill it with some of that wonderful frosting...but unfortunately, I didn't have enough of it to do that. Next time I'll plan ahead! There's nothing like "comfort" food on these cold and snowy days. It makes you want to forget the calories and go for the gooey goodness that only a warm cupcake can bring. Are you hungry, yet?

(photo courtesty of http://www.slowtrav.com)

I have been a fan of "Big Love" for many a year and upon seeing the new season episodes will be premiering in January, I remembered something... I received the whole set of previous episodes last year for Christmas! Do you think I could find them anywhere in the house? Not...

As it so happened, our daughter and her hubby stopped by for a visit this afternoon. In passing, I asked her if she might remember my Big Love gift from last Christmas. She told me that she had borrowed the whole set. (Which I'm sure she asked, but I had forgotten about it.) Mystery solved at last!

So in short, it takes a Mother to give up a never opened Christmas gift and let a daughter use it first. Now I'm waiting for her to bake us a cake using the "Big Top" cake pans which was one of the gifts I bought her for Christmas. But that's another story....

One of my New Year's resolutions is to try to keep up with my blog and post at least three times a week. I got so busy last summer, letting myself get out of the habit of frequent posting. I'm going to try really hard to get back into the swing of things.

Another resolution is to work on my mystery writing at least five hours a week. I have so many ideas and works in progress that I need to get myself structured to get them finished. I spent a lot of my free time in the last six weeks making Christmas gifts, baking and all of the general holiday preparations that I let that part of my creative side slide to the back burner.

Of course, there always the regular resolutions that many people make to themselves. Lose weight, eat healthier, live greener....those are on my list, too. I only hope the New Year will be good to me and help me keep my resolutions.

Happy New Year to All and may 2010 be your best year ever!