Category: Inspiration

Slow Down and Enjoy this Holiday Season
10 Holiday Survival Tips

This time of year brings so many emotions. Reveling in family time together, enjoying evenings by the fire; attending Christmas concerts and plays, and strolling through the stores hoping to find the perfect gift for that someone special. Christmas can bring joy, peace and happiness but it can also bring stress, and depression.

Take this time to cherish friends and family. Don’t get bogged in what Christmas is not about. It is not about worrying. It is not about overspending. It is not about getting stuff, so to speak.

Christmas is about the birth of a Savior, about coming together and being thankful for all the wonderful gifts we have been given by God, family being at the top of the list. Slow down and relax. I know it is easier said then done. Try these tips to help ease the season and truly appreciate this time of year.
1. Take time each morning to pray and read the Bible or a Devotional. Ask for peace. Ask for direction and reminders of the reason for the season
2. Volunteer, be on the lookout to help someone. Know a family affected by unemployment, tragedy? Send them gift cards or deliver a care package to them anonymously. It feels good to help out, especially someone we know.
3. Treat yourself to a mid-day coffee or tea while you are out and about.
4. Don’t stress about sending out Christmas cards, go the easy route. Walgreens prints the CUTEST, custom cards around. They are colorful and unique. No more boring Christmas cards.
5. Don’t worry if you think you don’t have enough money to go around. Homemade gifts are making a comeback. Think jars from the Dollar Tree, add nuts or chocolates or mints, add a pretty ribbon. Everyone loves snacks!
6. Take in a Christmas concert and play. What a great to lose yourself in a live performance whether it is a choir singing carols or eclectic actors performing Christmas classics. A perfect way to unwind.
7. Host a few simplified events. Don’t get all fancy and involved. A cookie exchange is easy and a great way to enjoy friends and family around the holidays. Also, hold an Open House on a weekend. Invite people to stop in as they go about their holiday shopping. Finger foods can be whipped up in about 30 minutes. Serve cider, cocoa and tea.
8. Take a nap!! Or Two!
9. If you have children, create an Advent calendar. Each night gather the family for a Christmas story and a surprise from the Calendar. A nice way to top off each December evening.
10. Get a mani/pedi and if possible a message. NOTHING says peace and relaxation like being pampered! Look out for deals on Groupon or Mamapedia Sweet Deals.
December 10, 2010
2 Ways We are Celebrating Advent

Our "Stocking" Advent Calendar

I have been looking around the web for ideas to celebrate Advent. In addition to a cute book we purchased a couple of years ago, I wanted another way to add some more fun.

The book is the Usbourne Advent Nativity Book. It features 24 really detailed cardboard cutouts and a story. You read a page a day and take out the corresponding days cutout and add it to the 3-D.

Days 1-4

Our 3-D Display

Christmas Advent Calendar idea from The Rusted Chain blog, she got it from this adorable blog, that has many more ideas from other sites that are way too cute. All the ideas are fantastic and a great way to count down to Christmas. Each day, remembering and focusing on the true reason for the season. The birth of our Savior!

I loved this the moment I saw it! Since we do not have a mantel or bureau I decided to use our white board. I picked up 8 pairs of socks and a pack of 9 suction hooks from the Dollar Tree. I had an extra hook so I added a Paper Treat Cone to the first day we will start counting down with the socks. I think I will add some chocolates, some gold dollars, and some other little items from Target Dollar Spot.

Our "Stocking" Advent Calendar

December 9, 2010
An Easy, Fun, Adorable way to do Christmas Cards

One of my cards

Every year I look forward to the holiday season, so many plans, places to go, people to see. Then, just like that, it is all over. One way I have found that really saves me time is personalized Christmas cards.

Every year during the holidays I always have big plans for my cards. Then in a rush, I grab whatever cards I can find and zip thru them scribbling our family name on the bottom. I have never been satisfied with this method. It is so impersonal. I wanted a better solution but I also wanted to be realistic and not choose something that would take a lot of time. Last year, I went with Shutterfly personalized Christmas cards. They are ADORABLE. They have a huge selection you really can’t beat it.

Besides being able to add our pictures for personalization another feature I love – You can personalize the greeting too! I love this feature because cards have hardly ever said exactly what I have wanted them to say.

I also use Shutterfly for Photo Books and prints so all of my pictures are already loaded when I log in. It is simple and easy. I highly recommend. Don’t get caught up in a lengthy process with your cards, personalized them AND have more time for other holiday stuff – like seeing people, serving people and spreading joy.

The cost is very reasonable too. Another cool thing about Shutterfly is that they always have sales going on. If you sign up for their email list you will get coupon codes almost daily. I have received photo books for up tp 50% off, prints for .09/each. I have used Kodak and Walgreens before but it seems there is a certain quality to Shutterfly’s products.

My cards took me about 30 minutes to personlize then it will take another 30 to stamp on addresses and mail. 1 hour, not bad!

November 29, 2010
Holiday Flash Mob – Fun at Macy’s

A friend from church posted this to her Facebook wall and I was left all warm and fuzzy, teary-eyed and joyous.

Shoppers needing a jump start into the Holiday season were treating to an up-close performance of Hallelujah sung by the The Opera Company of Philadelphia. I have always loved flash mobs and the spontaneous fun they bring. This is one with a twist. In fact, they are calling it a “Random Act of Culture” – what a great idea! Over 600 singers participated and were joined by a pipe organist and a massive pipe organ. Watch it, enjoy!

November 9, 2010
Homemade Almond Joy from Joy the Baker

I love Joy the Baker, she has inspired in so many ways. She comes up with such yummy, interesting recipes. A couple of weeks ago she made Homemade Almond Joy candy bars. Simple recipe, super delicious. Although they are super rich, must have coffee or milk with one. Her’s turned out looking perfect, mine did not. They were still yummy.

Freshly Toasted Almonds

Coconut with Almonds

Dab of Chocolate to hold the almond in place

Freshly dipped, this is where it gets messy!

After being chilled

I decided not to completely cover in chocolate because it is so rich, hence they do not look as pretty

Even though mine aren’t that great looking, they did taste delicious. Also, with the leftover chocolate I coated some almonds, huge hit with my boys!

On a side note: I almost didn’t post this because I don’t like the way mine looked… but then I was thinking that that is reality. I don’t want to put up any false fronts, like everything is always peachy and perfect. So here I am exposing myself… in all my chocolate messi-ness.

November 9, 2010
A Fall Family Tradition

Bushel of Pueblo Mosca HOT

In my family, the Fall means more than beautiful trees, colors, apples, pumpkins and cider. It also means it is time for green chiles to come up from Southern Colorado and New Mexico.

My mom used to get to actually go pick em with her parents but we just venture down the street to a temporary produce stand. The smell… AMAZING! Have you ever had fresh roasted chiles in your car? It is quite heavenly!

This year we chose a mix of Pueblo Mosca Hot and a Hatch Medium, we had them fired and bagged together, it makes for a nice mix.

The boys really enjoyed watching the process, we got to pick our chiles out and then the lady put them in the roaster and fired them up. Then we watched her pour them into a bag, then into our car. When we got home we bagged them, about 5-6 per bag, then froze them.

nice variety!

yum!

freshly roasted

Oliver watching the roasting

I happened to be making french bread pizza that night so I took a couple of chiles, chopped them up, added garlic salt, then spread on the bread after the sauce and before the cheese……. yum!

There are so many things you can put green chiles on, the possibilities are almost endless. I will be sure to post some recipes once I start pulling them out of the freezer.

Some more shots of the produce stand – the boys got to pick out a mini-pumpkin to decorate.

Chile Stand in SW Denver

Oliver found his pumpkin

Boys with the pumpkins

October 15, 2010
chocolate chip cookie dough on a “stick”

cookie dough on a stick

We love chocolate chip cookie dough. Now, thanks to Joy the Baker we can eat it on stick, and not worry about Grandma’s warning about raw dough! Thanks Joy!

By the way, you MUST visit her blog, Joy has the best food blog ever!

eggless batter

before freezing

dipped in semi-sweets

My husband is in love all over again!

October 13, 2010
A Mini Candy Buffet for Yummy Fun

skittles

As I mentioned in the previous post, my sister-in-law’s baby shower was today. I made chocolate covered pretzels and then added store bought candy to the table and made what I call a mini candy buffet. I have seen some amazing candy buffets on the web and was really wanting to try one. It is not as grand as I would have liked but it seemed to be a hit.

ALSO _ you must try to the recipe for the pretzels, sooooo many people loved them!

Here are some pics of the spread (the fuzzy little things you see are supposed to be spiders):

reese's pumpkins

chocolate covered pretzles

jolly ranchers and gum

bubble gum

jelly beans and gum

All in all, it was fun and easy. I do think that a bigger budget would make it that much more fun too! If you make one, come back and share your pics!

October 11, 2010
Just Goes to Show…

Today was the big day! A few days ago I blogged about my 1st Apple Pie, I wanted to enter a pie contest this weekend. I had planned on making a pie between then and now but my husband went out of town and I became really sick. I didn’t think I would end up in the contest after all. I woke Saturday morning and went right back to sleep, like 3 times! I had already missed my Saturday morning class and I relished the thought of staying in and doing nothing.

Then I walked into the kitchen, there sit all my pretty Granny Smith Apples… darn. Then I open the fridge and see my pie crusts waiting to be rolled out, hmmm. I had to at least give it a try. It was 9:30 by then, entries could be received no later than noon. I started but with the 3 little boys and all the prep work, I put the pie in the oven at 10:50.

crust

apple in the crust

lattice work

lattice after trimming

baking

I pretty much gave up then because I would only have 10 minutes to drive there and get the pie entered. Then I decided to keep trucking. I got all the kids ready, the car ready, the entry form, everything. I loaded the kids in the car and then came back in to get the pie and head out. SHOULD have taken the pie out before I loaded the kids, I should have not left it unattended at such a critical stage! Overcooked, some burnt crust! No!

Ugh! I cooked it about 6 minutes too long!

At this point I was like, “just keep swimming, swimming” (think Dori from Nemo). I was determined to keep going, keep trying. I headed up a traffic filled, over-congested major throughfare. I even muttered “It is in the Lord’s hands now”, to which my 7-year old asked what I meant. Traffic is killing me but I have resigned myself. OK we are at the light to turn left into the parking area… 2 minutes. NO PARKING, anywhere, I ask an attendant what I can do since I literally have 1 minute left. He told me to find a cadet and the cadet would run it in. AWESOME. Ok, I am not out of this yet.

I flag down a cadet and give him the run down, he is on a mission!

Now, since the winners will not be announced for another hour or two, I head home. I planned on meeting my mother and sister there later so we headed home to get water and use the facilities.

Cider Days Tickets

Oliver with his Soda Shop Hat

Back at the event, while waiting for my mother to show up, we missed the announcement of the winners. Turns out my mom already went in and she said she thinks I might have won. I was thinking, no way – it’s kind of burned… So here is the video, you have to watch and listen to what one lady tells a couple of other ladies, it is hilarious! I turned the camera on when I first walked in the room, the room had pretty much cleared out at this point.

Click here, if video isn’t showing.

So there you have it! It won on taste! I’ll take it, that is very cool! Even though it doesn’t look pretty, it’s tasted delicious! When they asked which one was mine I proudly said “the ugly one”. I took 2nd Place!! Yay! This has been quite an experience, so fun, even though I was sick I am glad I preserved, what a great feeling.

2nd Place!!!

Just proving that looks aren't everything! :O)

I am still bummed that I burned the crust but I know it will never happen again! I didn’t expect to win or even get an honorable mention, so I am thrilled.

Just wish it was yummy AND pretty.

Stayed tuned for Pie #3!

October 2, 2010
Fun with Lunch – Muffin Tin Inspiration

Lunch. Lunch can become boring for kids and they become uninterested and picky. At least that is what has happened to my kiddies. While browsing blogs I came across 2 really cute blogs FULL of ideas on making fun lunches. They are:

Muffin Tin Mom and Lunch in a Box; Building a Better Bento

Inspired by other blog moms once again, I set out. I had cutters so I didn’t need to get any. I did pick up the muffin tins at the Dollar Tree and then some cupcake liners at my local grocery store. I picked up 10 packs of fruit leather (.50/each), pretzels, crackers, cheese, almonds, turkey and cookies.

Our Muffin Tin Lunch:

Cut Fruit Leather into Rectangles

use small cutters to punch out shape

Oliver helping out

fun muffin tin lunch

3-Cheese Cheese Slice, cut out with extras chopped up… Fruit Leather cutouts… Almonds, Turkey Rolls on fancy toothpicks… Goldfish and Mini Oreos

lunchtime

**In this last picture I show my 2-year old with fruit leather – MISTAKE! Do not give to toddlers, trust me**

It was fun and the kids were so excited when they came to the table, that is a first! Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

September 30, 2010