I just realized that this will be my first Links post in the new year! And I really need to clean out my Bookmarks. Here goes. Five great sites I’m sure you will love.

1. Multicolr Search Lab. I made the collage above using this great script. You pick 1-10 colors and it pulls random images from flickr that have those colors in them. So much fun! And a great way to find photos to use on your blog.

2. Heather Bailey Store. This gal has beautiful fabric which is totally on my someday wishlist. I would love to make a purse using her fabric. Love it!

3. Covenant Life Church Resource Library. I have been listening to podcasts and sermons on my way to work everyday. I download stuff to my mp3 player. I don’t even have any music on my mp3 player! If I need a music fix I put in a CD at home or turn the radio on. So anyways, if you need some sermons to listen to you can download some from Covenant Life Church where Joshua Harris is the senior pastor.

4. Fluffels by Mariska and DIY Fluffies. Two Etsy shops from the same designer. By one of her unique softies or make your own! I would love to purchase one of her too cute monsters. They remind me of Monster’s Inc. Buy handmade!

5. House On Hill Road. A new blog I found and added to my Google Reader. A crafty homemaker. Love!

Yes, I have been Missing In Action recently. The past two weekends I have been sick. You have no idea how much I hate being sick. Its not so much actually being sick that I hate – although that isn’t a picnic either – but not being able to do. I always have lots of things that I would like to have the time to get done. There is never enough time in the day.

Besides eating away most of my free time being sick, this spring I am taking 15 credits online from the community college in our area. Four of the five classes I am working on right now and one will be starting in March. I really am enjoying the work. This last week I’ve been working on getting caught back up on the work that didn’t get done while I was sick. I am almost back on track.

This next month I am going to try to implement writing posts ahead of time. I can at least do this with the “extra” posts like projects, quotes, recipes, etc. That would save me time during the week when my blog gets put on the back burner. My goal is to be more regular posting in February.

Things I Love List:

1. Trying new things. I picked up the above sushi kit at Walmart today. I have good memories of my first time trying sushi at a youth retreat. No raw fish for me however. I like a basic vegetarian sushi roll. I’m going to add this to my work lunch planning.

2. Laptop Lunch. I have been trying to pack a lunch everyday when I go to work. I love the Laptop Lunch system! The serving sizes are perfect and it is forcing me to be creative picking healthy foods.

3. Getting lost in a good book. This isn’t as easy for me as it used to me. I think I finally read myself out. But I still occasionally find that book that I just can’t put down.

4. Listening to good podcasts on my way to work. The two that are keeping me busy at the moment are Boundless Podcast and the Eric Ludy Discipleship Series. Great stuff in both of these!

5. The feeling that you get when you check something off of your To Do List.

I have the quilt back done for the baby quilt I am making. I am hoping to get it basted and quilted together tomorrow. I love how it is turning out!

Tonight is blustery and cold again. I still went for my walk down the road and back though. Bundling up was essential. One of my goals this month is to incorporate thirty minutes of exercise into my schedule. I’m not doing to bad actually. For me it is a “just do it!” thing. And don’t leave it until you want to sit down and watch TV. It feels really good to do it. There is just something about having exercised that lifts you out of your humdrums.