Hello sunlight! No more waking up in darkness. Daylight savings time ended this morning at 2 am. Did you remember to turn your clocks back? It’s so easy now that we all have computers and cell phones, but how would you like to turn back time on these wall clocks?

DIY Wall Clock Kit from Radius Design

Talin Wall Clock from Crate and Barrel

Cool Kids Contemporary Clock from Tik Tak Things

What a fun-filled weekend!

• Attended a Filipino food cook-off, Adobofest 2011, in one of the many forest preserves around Chicago. It seemed pretty well attended, but I heard there were four times as many entries as there were this year. More on this event tomorrow.
  

  Filipino Cook-Off Event: Adobofest 2011

• Used our fire pit for the first time. Told the kids this was a close to camping as we’ll ever get! I’ve never been camping. Ever. But I am open to the idea of putting up a tent in the backyard one nice summer night. Maybe next year?
  

  Roasting dinner over the fire in the backyard with the kids

• Abby’s soccer team won their game after a harsh season opener (they lost 8-2)!
• And I rode 50 miles in the North Shore Century Ride! Started with a lovely sunrise over Lake Michigan – but quickly turned into a rainy mess of a day. I was drenched by the end. Took me 4 hours and 25 minutes, and on somewhat spongy tires for the middle leg of 20 miles (Oops.). It was really fun, but I won’t lie – it was a lot of work in some spots. And, I’m not very athletic at all. This may be my one big athletic accomplishment to date.
  

  Sunrise at Lake Michigan - Dawes Park - Evanston, IL

  

  The eager cyclist - I'm so excited

  

  Morning registration

  

  Bike odometer reached 50 miles at Bahai Temple of Worship, Wilmette, IL

I’m ready for a relaxing week. Too bad it won’t be… always something happening around our here! *grin*

Have a great week everyone!

How is everyone doing? This school year took off with so much energy, and I feel like I’m just now coming up for some air… getting ready to go back down into the river of household-heading, room parenting, writing, blogging, crafting, etc. Like so many, I have a problem saying NO, and I have a penchant for starting projects every time I see something cool. But, after realizing I have way too many daydreams and not enough finished products, I thought I better try to tidy up my projects-in-progress before I start something new.

In the meantime, there’s been plenty of activity around here… hope to share soon. And now, for a Thursday Tip.

Reusable lunch containers are great

More often than not, I’m using reusable lunch containers for my daughter. The ones we have actually fit her cooler lunchbox from L.L. Bean.

Jello right in container

My husband saw that I was making some Jello, and suggested I pour some right into the lunch containers. Totally worked – no staining, either! (He’s so smart.) There was enough Jello for four containers, and the rest was put into an 8×8 glass pan.

Lunch boxes ready for the week

I’d love to hear your lunchtime tips… what are some favorite lunchtime meals?

I thought it might be fun to give an apple to my kids’ teachers like Kendra did (guest blogger on Tatertots and Jello), but last year we gave spider plants and they grew with the class (cute play on words that wasn’t intentional). This Fall I added a little flag to usher in the school year. A little card would suffice for your teacher… or even a handmade picture by your student!

Spider plants are so easy to care for. They don’t need much light, and if you forget to water them, they’ll wilt, but won’t die that easily. These were just replanted, so they look a little droopy. But I’m sure in a few days, they’ll start to perk up.