2014 Resolution Recap

Do you make a New Year's Resolution List? I do! It is fun to look back at your list and see all of the things you accomplished and to recognize the items you need to keep working on. I am sharing my resolution list from this past year! 

New Year’s Resolutions

2014!

  

©  start a devotion group and read the bible more-tried to get a bible study going so that one is staying on the list for next year. I am however in a few bible studies thru church so I feel fulfilled. God is happy as long as we always try.  The bible app has been really helpful to keep reading God's word anywhere at anytime. 

©  become a more beautiful person on the inside

©  respect Kyle and be the best wife ever

©  learn how to quilt/make one or more- below is a pic of my first ever quilt. I made it using the fabric from my wedding. It turned out great! I made a baby quilt and now am working on another one for our living room. 

©  start a workout journal to get focused- I had some good months and some bad months this year. It's definitely a balance with all things on life! 

©  send thank you and birthday cards more consistently

©  keep better record of mail , bills and files better

©  make one new food item a week—soup per week--nope!! Found a cole good soup recipes tho 

©  host a house or dinner party- Kyle and I held a Chopped Party and it was very successful. 

©  drink less diet coke/soda and more water - went 10 days in a row without diet coke! Still working on quitting- keeping this one on the list for 2015

©  start taking vitamins- I bought a bottle of multivitamins in January AND still have a pretty full bottle 

©  stop tanning—look younger- I have been a full year without tanning! I might be white but I look younger already 

©  read books more often-Audiobooks count right? 

Enjoy the last day of 2014! See you next year!
Loryn Lichty

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! We are travelled to Pierre to visit my family and spend time together celebrating the real reason for the season-Jesus' birth. This year my mom and I made the cutest gift baskets using mom's  Longaberger Basket collection. I have never made a gift basket before but  I am convinced it is the best thing ever invented. We have several feasts planned- donuts, enchiladas and Zuppaa. Plus we will have sweets in between Christmas destinations. We opened gifts this morni and the puppies were pure entertainment. Daddy took us for a sled ride pulling us on his razor and that was a complete blast. Praying that you and your family are enjoying the day!

Cinnamon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

These Cupcakes were delicious! They are perfect for your next Christmas Party and really easy to make. Just mix up a white cake mix and add cinnamon. Really. That Simple! 

Christmas Cookies

Have you ever been apart of a Christmas Cookie Exchange? I participated in my first one this year and it is such a great idea! The steps behind the Christmas Cookie Exchange are simple:

1. Ask your friends to participate (and everyone will want to!)
2.  Decide the number of cookies you will make to share i.e. we had 5 people so we made 2 dozen each of 2 different kinds of cookies--that way each person got to take home 6 of each variety
3.  Get together and exchange! Each person will go home with a variety of cookies on their tray to have at their next Christmas Party. 

It's a great idea for next year, so don't forget to add it to your Christmas List that I know you have started for next year with all of the things you didn't get done for this year's holiday. 

These are the cookies I made--French Almond Macaroons and M&M Cookies

This is the tray full of cookies I came home with! As you can see, the Cookie Exchange is not just limited to cookies! 

DIY Christmas Decor-Angels

Angels are a big part of the Christmas Story. They announced Jesus birth and they praise his name. The bible doesn't describe angels and cute little things but the opposite! However, at church this year, we made "Cute Wall Hanging Angels" as a Christmas Craft. All of the pieces were pre-cut so any craft level could put the angel together. They turned out really well. You can see from the pictures below the Angel progression. I thought the coolest part of this craft was that we painted the Angels and then dipped out pieces in wood stain and wiped it off to give the wood a weathered old feeling. I never would have thought of that!

Kitten Mittens

I bought this pattern from the quilt store (sorry I can't share due to copy right reasons!) and made a few pairs of "Kitten Mittens" for my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, who are both cat people. I used a fleece that was covered with Kitten print and added a bow to the end to embellish them a little. The pattern was fairly simple to follow, however making a left and a right mitten took a little practice. I am not going to lie to you, I have 3 rights in my craft room all sewn up without a pair to match it to! They are Purrrrrrrr-fect gifts for this Christmas!

DIY Ornaments

We finally had a girls night craft night combo! We made homemade ornaments using ragged cream cotton fabrics, foam balls, jute and corsage pins make these beautiful tree ornaments. The inspiration came right off Pinterest of course! Make sure you have a hot glue gun and some patience and you will be wrapping your way into a new tree display next year! You can try making these with cheaper balls from the dollar store or add embellishments like buttons as well.

It's Christmas Time!!

One week until Christmas! The Lichty house has been busy preparing for Christmas and I've finally had sometime to post  on the blog! Kyle and I have a 4 foot artificial tree that we have been putting up for years nit definitely does the trick but it is pretty dinky and makes the pile of presents for family and friends look huge  we had to rearrange out furniture to find a fitting spot to display our Christmas decorations and we really like the furniture's new locations. I have these pretty red bulbs and red snowflakes from IKEA hanging from the tree along with special ornaments from Kyle's childhood. We got our stockings from Pottery Barn last year and this year we added a stocking for Mozz. I think he can already tell it is his Stocking because we have already hidden a toy in there for him. 

 I can't wait to be a Christmas card family. But for now, I proudly display other families up on our card display. I made the JOY wood sign out of wood slices from our wedding, red floss and nails and strung jute back and forth to hang the postcards on. Look and my beautiful family at the bottom! Those Schuetzle's!!

Happy birthday Mom!

Happy birthday to my best friend! Love you Mom!