New Look and a New Year

I have many little plans for my blog this coming year - nothing too big or crazy, just fun stuff!

The first thing I wanted to do was get a nice new custom design - but as you can see, that is done! Aaaahhhh - it's much better, isn't it? If you're reading this in a feed reader, you really should stop by for a nice chocolatey break.

I love the new look on my blog and I can brag about it 'cause I didn't design it! I am giving a HUGE thank you and a BIG hug to Kim for designing my pretty new chocolatey look!! And she did it even though I was rude enough to say, "Hey, when are you going to make my blog pretty like yours?" (Good thing she's a friend!) She suggested I just mention her name rather than her blog, so I'll just tell you that she did this design in her HOME inSTEAD of using hER Spare time for something else and she is a big sweetHEART whose blog is already on my blogroll! Thank you again, Kim - I love it!!

There are a couple of things coming up in January on my blog - first up is Simmering Soup Week, so you can stay warm and cozy this winter! It will start 1/12. There will be soup recipes featured every day, opportunities to link up, and I'm sure that there will be a giveaway of some sort! And then the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival hosted by Bloggy Giveaways starts on 1/26. I can never resist having a giveaway!

I had an idea - maybe for February. You'll have to let me know what you think. I was wishing I could have a girls' night with all my blogging friends, but we all live too far apart. But what if I hosted a virtual girls' night? I could assign a week for everybody to have their own girls' nights, give a list of possible recipes to enjoy, give a list of movies to choose from, and even some suggested activities (pedicures, etc.). Then, on a day during the following week, everybody could link up with what they did, how it went, and some fun pics for all to enjoy!

Obviously, I have an obsession with theme weeks, so next up would be a week of cake recipes - yum! How does that sound? Maybe at the start of Spring? And then my 1-year Blogaversary is in April - I'm sure there will be something fun going on!

Beyond that, I'm not sure. I'm open for suggestions!

Also, I would love for my blog to lead to a way to make a few extra dollars. That way I could cover things like the occasional Starbucks run, shipping costs for giveaways, and contribute to some family expenses. I have no idea what it could be, but I trust that the Lord will lead me to it if that's what He wants me to do.

I plan to continue blogging about tea on Tuesdays (Tea for Two-sdays) and chocolate on Fridays (Would You Like Chocolate With That?). And I like to link up to other blogs whenever there's something fun going on.

I am so thankful for the friends that I have made through blogging and the wonderful new blogs that I continue to find and read. I am thankful for being convicted through blogs to get up earlier, spend more time with the Lord, get more organized, and focus more on family and my household. I am thankful for blogs that give me more knowledge, advice, helpful hints, recipes, and laughs. And I am thankful for the many people who are reading my blog (it is amazing to me!) whether they comment or not! And I am very thankful for a hubby that is supportive of my blogging (as long as it doesn't interfere with my keeping of the home)!

I hope you'll keep stopping here to smell the chocolates with me. :)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas? Comments? Let me know!